University student handed 3-month sentence for festive firing, attempted murder

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a June Criminal Court ruling, sentencing a university student to three months after convicting him of attempting to murder two men in a festive fire shooting incident in Ajloun in February 2022.

The Criminal Court declared the defendant guilty of attempted murder on February 18 and handed him a two-year prison term.

However, the court decided to reduce the sentence to three months because the victims dropped charges against the defendant.

Court papers said the defendant graduated from one of the government universities and invited his friends to his house to celebrate.

The defendant “drew a gun and fired several rounds in the air”.

“While lowering the weapon, two bullets were discharged accidentally striking two of his friends,” court papers added.

One of the victims was struck in the face, while the second was struck in the waist,” the court documents said.

The two victims were rushed to a nearby hospital and received the necessary medical treatment, the court added.

The defendant contested his ruling via his lawyer arguing that there were “legal errors in the investigation procedures”.

“The prosecution depended on ambiguous and contradictory evidence to implicate my client,” the defence lawyer argued.

The Criminal Court’s attorney general asked the higher court to uphold the 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, Mahjid Azab, Hayel Amr, Fawzi Nahar and Ibrahim Abu Shamma.

According to the Criminal Information Department (CID) 2023 report, there were 1,998 reported gunfire incidents in the Kingdom, including 69 cases were the perpetrators were allegedly minors.

The CID report stated that 79 cases were registered as causing a threat to the public safety. The report did not list the number of fatalities and injuries.

Earlier in the month, the Public Security Directorate (PSD) issued a statement urging the public to refrain from firing live ammunition during weddings, graduation and other celebratory occasions.

The PSD warned the public that it will monitor any complaints and arrest violators.

“Public safety comes first and we will arrest any person who violates law so that they will get the necessary penal punishments as stipulated in the law,” the PSD statement said on May 4.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).