(MENAFN- Jordan Times) The Criminal Court has sentenced a 31-year-old merchant to death for killing a friend over a financial debt in January 2010.
The court declared the defendant, I.M., guilty of murdering his friend Yousef J., 44, on January 5.
The court said the defendant worked in the used furniture business and had been friends with the victim for several years.
As a result of their friendship, the court added, the victim lent the defendant money.
"The defendant returned part of the money in cash and gave the rest to the victim in cheques," the 14-page verdict said.
The two had a heated argument after the cheques bounced and the defendant refused to pay the money he owed, the court said.
The court quoted one of the victim's siblings as stating that the value of the loan was around JD31,000.
On the day of the incident, the defendant acquired a pistol and a switchblade, called the victim and the two went for a drive in Yousef's car, according to the court.
On the road, the two started arguing about the money and the defendant drew his gun and fired five rounds into the victim's chest and stomach.
"The defendant then placed the victim in the passenger seat, drove to a deserted area, and stabbed him with the switchblade until he made sure he was dead," the court said.
The defendant then took a taxi back to his house, hid the gun at home and disposed of the switchblade in a remote area.
The defendant was arrested the following day, "confessed to the murder and showed police the murder weapons at his house and in the deserted area".
Criminal lab results found that blood on the knife belonged to the victim and a ballistics test proved that the bullets extracted from Yousef had been fired from the gun found at the defendant's house, according to court transcripts.
The defendant had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The tribunal comprised judges Atef Jaradat, Firas Khashashneh and Omar Atharbeh.
The Cassation Court is reviewing the verdict, which was issued in mid-May.
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