Man sentenced to 20 years in prison for murder

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a March 2020 Criminal Court ruling sentencing a taxi driver to 20 years in prison after convicting him of murdering a 35-year-old man in Amman in June 2021. 

The court declared the defendant guilty of stabbing the victim, also a taxi driver, following a heated argument about who was next in line to pick up passengers on June 8. 

The defendant was handed the maximum punishment for the manslaughter charge. 

Court papers said the defendant and the victim worked on the same taxi line in downtown Amman.

On the day of the incident, the court maintained, the defendant left his vehicle while standing in line to pray. 

When the defendant returned to his taxi, the court added, he noticed that the victim had picked up two passengers. 

“An argument ensued between the two and the victim descended from his vehicle to discuss the matter,” court papers said. 

“The defendant drew a switchblade and stabbed the victim in the chest,” court transcripts maintained. 

 The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival, the court added. 

The defendant contested the court verdict through his lawyer arguing that there were irregularities in the investigations.  

Meanwhile, the Criminal Court’s general attorney asked the Court of Cassation to uphold the ruling. 

The higher court ruled that the Criminal Court followed the proper procedure when sentencing and the defendant deserved the verdict he received. 

The Court of Cassation judges were Mahmoud Ebtoush, Nayef Samarat, Hammad Ghzawi, Qassem Dughmi and Mohammad Khashashneh.