Man sentenced to 15 years for attempted murder

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a May Criminal Court ruling, sentencing a man to 15 years in prison after convicting him of attempting to murder a man in the Balqa Governorate in July 2019.

The Criminal Court declared the defendant guilty of attempted murder, which stemmed from “a heated dispute” with the victim on July 31.

The court also convicted the defendant of causing permanent disability to the victim.

The defendant was given the maximum sentence.

Court papers said that the victim was heading to a wedding in his area, when someone called to notify him that his family was fighting with another family in the Ein Basha area.

When the victim arrived to the area, an argument ensued with the defendant, “who was armed with a pump-action shotgun,” court documents said.

The defendant aimed his weapon at the victim and fired one shot, the court papers maintained.

“The bullet’s shrapnel struck the victim on different parts of his body, including his right eye, which caused him permanent eyesight disability,” the court papers added.

The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital, and survived the shooting incident after undergoing multiple surgeries, the court papers added.

The defendant contested his ruling via his lawyer, arguing that there were “legal errors in the investigation procedures”.

“The prosecution office provided contradictory and weak evidence against my client,” the lawyer argued.

The Criminal Court’s attorney general asked the higher court to uphold the 15-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 Mohammad Ibrahim, Yassin Abdullat, Hammad Ghzawi, Nayef Samarat and Qassem Dughmi.