Man charged with manslaughter in stabbing death of 14-year-old sister

AMMAN – The Criminal Court prosecutor charged a 23-year-old man with the manslaughter of his younger sister following a domestic dispute at their home in an eastern Amman neighbourhood over the weekend, official sources said.

The 14-year-old victim received one fatal stab with a kitchen knife to her back on Friday reportedly by her brother following a “heated argument” that resulted from the victim reportedly using the suspect’s mobile to “open her own social media account”, a senior judicial source said.

“The suspect became enraged of his sister’s actions and following a heated argument he grabbed kitchen knife and stabbed her once in the back,” the senior judicial source told The Jordan Times.

The suspect then fled from his family’s home briefly, while the victim was rushed by her family to hospital but was declared dead on arrival, the judicial source added.

A second source told The Jordan Times that the victim’s family where at home “but were surprised with their son’s swift actions and did not have enough time to stop him”.

The suspect was arrested by police shortly after the stabbing incident occurred, according to the second source.

Criminal Court Prosecutor Salah Taleb is currently questioning the suspect and his family, according to the second source.

The suspect was ordered detained at a correctional and rehabilitation centre for 15 days pending further investigation.

Solidarity Is Global Institute (SIGI) issued a statement denouncing the murder of the child and calling on the government to adopt stronger measures to safeguard the well-being and safety of women and children.

“The child’s murder recently brings the total number of women and girls killed in Jordan since the beginning of the year to seven,” the SIGI statement said.

SIGI called on the government to “support the civil society with its efforts to combat domestic violence and to also provide psychological and counselling services for free in all governorates”.

Meanwhile, social media outlets expressed their shock and dismay over the stabbing incident and called on the justice system in Jordan to inflict the stiffest punishment on the perpetrator.

A woman named Bayan T. Tweeted: “He committed a crime … he murdered his own sister… making excuses and covering up for him is truly ridiculous!”

Haitham Q. also tweeted denouncing the incident. “I am sure there are many cases of violence that occurs on daily basis that are not reported. We need to have stricter laws that would act as a deterrent for anyone one who thinks this way. This is the real acts of violence that needs to be stopped in our community.”