Man sentenced to 8 years in prison for attempted murder

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a June Criminal Court ruling, sentencing a man to eight years in prison after convicting him of complicity in attempted murder in Zarqa in December 2022.

The Criminal Court declared the defendant guilty of complicity in attempting to murder a 22-year-old man during a brawl in the street and handed him a 12-year prison term.

However, the court decided to reduce the sentence to eight years because the victim dropped charges against the defendant.

Court papers said the victim and the defendant resided in the same neighbourhood in Zarqa.

On December 22, the two were hanging out in their neighbourhood with other men when an argument ensued.

"The defendant drew a switchblade and stabbed the victim twice in the back," court documents said.

The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital and survived the stabbing incident by undergoing several surgeries, the court added.

The defendant contested his ruling via 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 eight-year sentence.

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 Mahmoud Ebtoush, Nayef Samarat, Hammad Ghzawi, Mohammad Shreiri, and Mohammad Khashashneh.