Maximum sentence for man who killed disabled brother

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation upheld an April Criminal Court ruling sentencing a man to 20 years in prison after convicting him of killing his physically challenged brother over financial matters in October 2016.

The court declared the defendant guilty of stabbing and murdering his brother, who was a street beggar, on October 26, and handed him the maximum punishment.

Court papers said the defendant was going through financial difficulties and needed JD1,000.

According to court papers, the defendant knew his brother had money since he was a street beggar and thought he might have instant cash to help him. The defendant asked his brother for help but the victim refused.

“The defendant became enraged and stabbed his brother repeatedly with a knife on different parts of his body,” according to the papers.

Upon searching the victim, court transcripts said, he only found JD10, which he took and left.

“While walking away from the crime scene the defendant was afraid that his brother was still alive so he returned and on the way found a wooden stick, which he used to beat his brother on his head to make sure that he killed him,” the court stated.

The defendant contested the Criminal Court’s ruling arguing that the court “did not follow the proper procedures when sentencing the defendant and that he was subjected to torture and duress”.

However, the higher court ruled that the defendant failed to provide any evidence that suggested he was subjected to any form of torture.

 “The Criminal Court followed the proper procedures and the defendant deserved the verdict he received,” the higher court ruled.

 The Court of Cassation judges were Mohammad Ibrahim, Naji Zubi, Yassin Abdullat, Bassim Mubeidin and Majid Azab.