Cassation Court upholds 12-year sentence for man convicted of attempted murder

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a November 2022 Criminal Court ruling, sentencing a man to 12 years in prison after convicting him of attempting to murder a man during a brawl in Irbid in August 2020.

The Criminal Court declared the defendant guilty of attempting to murder the victim with a switchblade on August  2.

The defendant, who was also convicted of resisting arrest charges, was given the maximum sentence.

Court papers said the defendant contacted the victim and asked him to meet in an area close to downtown Irbid to discuss an old feud.

When the victim arrived at the designated destination, “the two had a heated exchange and the defendant ended up stabbing the victim in the neck,” court papers said.

"The defendant then sped off with his vehicle and refused to stop when a police patrol attempted to pull him over following a complaint by the victim’s family," court documents said.

Meanwhile, the victim was rushed to a nearby hospital with severe injuries but survived the stabbing incident, the court added.

The defendant was eventually arrested and referred to the Criminal Court prosecutor for questioning and indictment, the court papers stated.

The defendant did not appeal his verdict at a higher court.

The Criminal Court’s attorney general asked the higher court to uphold the 12-year sentence 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 Yassin Abdullat, Nayef Samarat, Qassem Dughmi, Mohammad Khashashneh and Hammad Ghzawi.