Man sentenced to 8 years in prison for attempted murder

AMMAN — The Cassation Court has upheld a June Criminal Court ruling, sentencing a man to eight years in prison after convicting him of attempting to murder a man in Amman in May 2019. 

The Criminal Court declared the defendant guilty of shooting the victim several times following an argument over a car sale on May 15 and handed him a 12-year prison term.

However, the court decided to reduce the punishment to eight years because the victim dropped the charges against the defendant.

Court papers said the defendant wanted to buy the victim’s vehicle.

One day before the incident, the court maintained, the defendant tried to buy the victim’s vehicle and the two agreed to meet the following day to seal the deal.

When the victim went to the defendant’s home the following day, according to court papers, an argument ensued.

“The defendant drew a gun and fired several rounds at the victim striking both legs,” court papers said

The victim survived the assault after undergoing surgery to his legs and “ended up limping because of the bullets,” the court papers added. 

The defendant contested the Criminal Court’s ruling, arguing that the “prosecution failed to provide solid evidence to convict him with the charges”.

“The defendant had no intention of killing the victim and wanted only to hurt him,” the lawyer argued.

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 Mohammad Khashashneh.