Court upholds sentence for man who accidently killed niece during brawl

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation upheld a May Criminal Court ruling sentencing a 33-year-old merchant to two years in prison after convicting him of the involuntary manslaughter of his niece in Zarqa in September 2015.

The court declared the defendant guilty of accidentally killing his niece while standing in the street on September 16, and handed him the maximum punishment allowed for the charge. 

Court documents said the defendant, who had consumed alcohol, was with his brother in the Zarqa market when a brawl erupted between his sibling and another man.

“The defendant attempted to stop the brawl but could not so he drew a gun and fired several rounds on the ground near his brother to stop him,” court transcripts said.

But two bullets “deflected and struck the victim, who was standing near them, in the neck and stomach,” according to court documents.

The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead upon arriving by attending physicians, the court transcripts said.

“The bullet in the stomach penetrated vital organs which caused the victim’s instant death,” the court said.

The Court of Cassation ruled that the Criminal Court’s ruling was accurate and the defendant deserved the punishment he received.

The Court of Cassation was comprised of judges Mohammad Ibrahim, Yassin Abdullat, Majid Azab, Hamad Ghzawi and Naji Zubi.