‘Premeditated murders drop in first three months’

AMMAN — The number of premeditated murders in the Kingdom dropped by one-third during the first three months of this year compared to the same period in 2014, according to official figures. 

Public Security Department Spokesperson Maj. Amer Sartawi told The Jordan Times Monday that 22 murder cases took place during the January-March period of this year, down from 33 murders registered in the same period of 2014. 

Asked if the drop in homicides was linked to reactivating the death penalty late last year, Sartawi declined to comment, noting that such a question needs to be answered through scientific studies. 

On December 21, 2014, prison authorities executed 11 convicted murderers, a move that signalled reinstating the death penalty in Jordan after a moratorium since March 2006. 

Officials said the men who were executed were convicted by the Criminal Court in 2005 and 2006 of committing heinous premeditated murders, with some killing more than two people.

Sartawi said figures on the total number of murder cases in 2014 are still being prepared and should be announced in the near future.