Minor who stabbed friend to death sentenced to five years in correctional centre

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a December Irbid court ruling sentencing a minor to serve five years at a juvenile correctional and rehabilitation centre after convicting him of murdering his friend in Irbid in January 2016.

The court declared the defendant guilty of stabbing the victim on January 14 following a heated argument and sentenced him to five years in a juvenile centre.

Six days after the stabbing incident, the victim died as a result of the wounds he had sustained, the court stated.

Court documents said that the defendant was sitting with his friends outside his home and spotted the victim walking nearby.

“The defendant called on the suspect and they started arguing over an old feud. The defendant then drew a switchblade and stabbed the victim repeatedly with it,” the court said, adding that the victim was rushed to a nearby hospital where he died a few days later from 8 stab wounds sustained to vital organs.

The defendant contested the court ruling through his lawyer, claiming that he was defending himself when he stabbed the victim.

However, the higher court ruled that the ruling was accurate and the defendant deserves the verdict he received.

“The defendant confessed to the murder and it was evident that he planned well for it by preparing the weapon and waiting for the right time to commit the murder,” the Court of Cassation said.

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