Case of man charged with decapitating mother postponed

AMMAN — The Criminal Court on Tuesday postponed the case of a 28-year-old man standing trial for allegedly murdering and decapitating his mother in Amman last November, because the prosecution witnesses failed to attend the court.

The defendant is standing trial on charges of allegedly murdering and decapitating his mother in the Tabarbour neighbourhood on  November 3. 

“The court decided to adjourn the session until March 28 because the defendant’s father and other prosecution witness did not show up in court to testify,” Presiding Judge Ibrahim Abu Shama said.

Earlier in the month, the court decided to refer the defendant for psychiatric evaluation at a government institution, following a request by his lawyer, who cited the defendant’s behaviour in  the court in addition to the testimonies of two of his brothers as a justification.

The defendant climbed the bars of the cage he was being held in the courtroom, making strange noises and uttering indecipherable words.

The prosecution alleges that the suspect considered his mother “his enemy and that she ruined his life, and cut off her head when she returned home from a visit”.

“The suspect bought an axe a few days before the incident and took it to a butcher to sharpen it, telling the owner that his mother wanted the axe to cut meat,” the charge sheet said.

After murdering his mother, the prosecution maintained: “he took out her eyeballs and fled”, the charge sheet added. 

The defendant, who has a criminal record, was reportedly wanted in connection with a number of drug-related cases and was believed to have been using synthetic cannabis (known locally as “joker”).

If convicted of premeditated murder, the suspect could face the death penalty.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the murder charges, but pleaded guilty to possessing a sharp weapon in a previous court session.