Man sentenced to 20 years in prison for murdering 53-year-old neighbour

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a January Criminal Court ruling, sentencing a man to 20 years in prison for murdering his 53-year-old neighbour in Amman in August 2020.

The Criminal Court declared the defendant guilty of murdering the victim following a heated argument in Quweismeh neighbourhood on August 30, and handed him the maximum sentence.

According to court papers, the defendant had constructed a small tent on the victim’s land to sell fruits and vegetables without his permission.

When the victim went to discuss the matter with the defendant, the court maintained that “an argument ensued between the two”.

“The defendant beat up the victim then rushed to his house, grabbed a shotgun, went to the roof of his house and fired one round at the victim,” according to court papers.

The victim was struck in the stomach and rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead on arrival, the court documents said.

The defendant contested the verdict through his lawyer, arguing that he “killed the victim in self-defence and a moment of rage”.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Court’s attorney general asked the higher court to uphold the 20-year sentence.

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

“The self-defence argument does not exist here since the defendant was the one who attacked the victim and killed him from a distance,” the higher court ruled.

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