Two men get maximum prison sentences for murdering neighbour

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation upheld a February Criminal Court ruling sentencing  two men to top prison terms ranging from seven years to life in prison after convicting them of murdering their neighbour following a brawl in an Amman neighbourhood in July 2013.

The court declared the defendants guilty of shooting and killing the victim following a heated argument and a scuffle on July 10, and handed them the maximum punishments according to the charges leveled against them.

The court also ordered both defendants to pay JD48,361 in compensation to the victim’s family.

 Court papers said on the day of the incident one of the defendants threw a small table from his balcony on “one of the victim’s brothers over an old feud and it struck his back and neck”.

“The defendants engaged in a heated argument with the injured man and the victim, and knives were used after a small scuffle broke out,” court papers said.

The neighbours intervened, according to the court, and tried to calm down the situation.

“The two parties agreed to meet later at night to resolve the matter, but instead, the two defendants brought machineguns and started firing at the victim and his family members,” court documents said.

One bullet struck the victim in the chest killing him instantly, the court transcripts added.

 The higher court ruled that the Criminal Court followed the proper procedures when sentencing the defendants and they deserved the verdict he received.