Cassation Court overturns man’s attempted murder sentence

AMMAN — The Cassation Court overturned a March Criminal Court ruling, sentencing a man to 12 years in prison after convicting him of an attempted murder in the Jordan Valley in October 2019.

The Criminal Court declared the defendant guilty of stabbing the victim with a knife on October 31 following “a heated argument” and handed him the maximum punishment. 

However, the higher court overturned the verdict ruling that the Criminal Court “did not take into consideration that the victim dropped the charges against the defendant”.

Court papers said the defendant and the victim were drunk on the day of the incident.

“An argument ensued between the two and the defendant drew a switchblade and stabbed him once in the stomach,” court papers said.

The victim survived the assault after undergoing surgery to his chest, the court papers added. 

However, attending physicians at the hospital determined that the injuries were life-threatening and he survived due to medical interference.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Court’s attorney general asked the higher court to uphold the ruling. 

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, Fawzi Nahar, Nayef Samarat, Hayel Amr and Mohammad Khashashneh.