Tafileh man sentenced to 20 years for murdering brother

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a March Criminal Court ruling sentencing a man to 20 years in prison for  murdering his brother in Tafileh in June 2018.

The Criminal Court declared the defendant guilty of stabbing his brother to death over a financial debt on June 5 and handed him the maximum sentence.

The court decided to amend the original charge of premeditated murder against the defendant to manslaughter “because it was proven to the court that the defendant did not plot to murder his brother”, court documents said. 

The defendant had failed to pay back a loan, prompting the victim and his other siblings to take out a loan to pay off his debts.

“The financial dispute created many problems between the defendant and his siblings, including the victim,” court documents said.

On the day of the incident, the court maintained that “the financial dispute escalated between the victim and the defendant”.

“The defendant decided to take revenge and followed the victim with his vehicle while the latter was taking his family on a ride,” court papers said.

The defendant obstructed the victim and forced him to exit his vehicle, according to court transcripts.

“The defendant descended from his vehicle holding a switchblade and ran towards his brother,” the court papers added.

He then stabbed the victim under his arm, causing him to fall, according to court papers.

“The defendant jumped on his brother and attempted to stab him again but was stopped by another brother who had followed him,” the court added.

The victim attempted to drive himself to a hospital but went into a coma and died before arriving, court transcripts added.

The defendant did not contest the ruling, while 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 were accurate and that the defendant was given the appropriate punishment.

The Cassation Court bench comprised judges Mohammad Ibrahim, Bassim Mubeidin, Nayef Samarat, Yassin Abdullat and Naji Zu’bi.