Man sentenced to life in prison for murder

AMMAN — The Cassation Court has upheld a May 2021 Criminal Court ruling, sentencing a man to life in prison after convicting him of murdering a man and attempting to murder another in Aqaba in April 2019. 

The Criminal Court declared the defendant guilty of shooting the victim to death following "a heated argument" on April 24 and handed him the maximum punishment.

The court also found the defendant guilty of attempting to murder a man who was trying to aid the victim, court papers said.

Court papers said the defendant went to discuss an old feud with the victims when the argument ensued between the two.

“The argument became heated and the defendant drew a gun and fired several rounds at the victim and one fatal bullet struck him in the chest,” court papers said.

The defendant witnessed a man trying to aid the victim so he fired several rounds at him, but he survived the shooting incident, according to court papers.

The defendant contested the verdict arguing that the prosecution failed to provide "solid evidence" that would implicate him in the case, according to his lawyer.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Court’s attorney general asked the higher court to uphold the ruling. 

The higher court ruled that the Criminal Court proceedings were accurate and that the defendant was given the appropriate punishment. 

The Cassation Court bench comprised judges Mohammad Ibrahim, Yassin Abdullat, Nayef Samarat, Hammad Ghzawi and Qasssem Dughmi.