Man handed 12-year jail term for murder attempt

AMMAN — The Cassation Court has upheld a July Criminal Court ruling, sentencing a man to 12 years in prison after convicting him of attempting to murder a man in Aqaba in May 2020.

The Criminal Court declared the defendant guilty of attempted murder, stemming from “an old feud” with the victim, on May 18. The defendant was given the maximum sentence.

Court papers said the defendant had an old feud with the victim, who drove to his house on several occasions “to provoke him”.

"The victim drove nearby his house and looked at the defendant, who was standing outside his house, in the eye in a provocative manner," court documents said.

The defendant went inside his house and grabbed a firearm “which he used to fire four rounds at the victim’s vehicle,” according to court papers.

“The bullets hit the body of the vehicle and no one was injured in the shooting incident,” the court added.

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

The Criminal Court’s attorney general asked the higher court to uphold the 12-year sentence 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, Ibrahim Abu Shamma, Majid Azab and Hayel Amr.