JORDAN: DEATH SENTENCE ISSUED IN ROBBERY-MURDER

June 25, 2012: In Jordan, the Criminal Court has sentenced one man to death and another to 10 years in prison for robbing and murdering a Syrian man in a neighbourhood near the University of Jordan (UJ) last September. The Cassation Court has begun reviewing the verdicts, which were issued at the end of May. The Criminal Court found A.T., 20, guilty of robbing and murdering Mahmoud Fadel, 17, and handed him the death penalty.
The court also found A.A., also 20, guilty of complicity in Fadel's murder and handed him a 10-year prison term.
Court papers said the two men, along with a third defendant who was acquitted by the court for lack of evidence, decided on September 2 to rob a random victim because they needed money.
"The three men cruised the streets late at night in a pickup truck in the University of Jordan area and spotted the victim who was walking back to his house," the court said.
The two convicted defendants walked towards Fadel, and A.T. threatened him with a switchblade, demanding his mobile phone and money.
"The victim resisted at first, then when he felt they were serious he handed them the mobile, his belt and a takeaway meal he had bought that night," the court added.
While the two men were attempting to leave the area, the victim screamed for help, so A.T. stabbed him once in the thigh and left, according to the court.
"The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival due to heavy blood loss," the court transcripts stated.
The following day, the court maintained, the defendants sold the victim's mobile for JD30.
The defendants had pled not guilty to the charges at the opening of their trial earlier this year.
The tribunal comprised judges Hayel Amr, Talal Akrabawi and Ayman Ghzawi. (Sources: Jordan Times, 25/06/2012)