European Woman Murder Case: Appeal Hearing Adjourned, Defendant Absent

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com   

The High Appeals Court commenced its hearing of the appeal filed by the Bahraini man convicted of murdering a European woman and disposing of her body by burning it. However, the defendant himself was absent from the proceedings, as the court adjourned the case to facilitate his transfer from prison. The defendant, in his forties, has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for his crime.

The High Appeals Court is tasked with examining the case, particularly focusing on the defendant's intent and the weight of circumstantial evidence presented during the initial trial.

The defendant, who confessed to killing, burning, and burying the victim, had initially argued that he did not intend to kill her and was under the influence of alcohol and drugs, leading to a state of hallucination. However, the High Criminal Court, presided by Judge Bader Abdulateef Mohammed Al Abdullah, rejected this claim and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

The High Appeals Court is expected to delve deeper into the defendant's claims of intoxication and lack of intent. The court is also expected to scrutinise the weight of circumstantial evidence, as no physical remains of the victim were found. The prosecution had relied heavily on the defendant's confession and the distress call made by the victim before her death.

The officer, who led the investigation and previously testified that no traces of the victim's body were found despite a search with police dogs, is expected to be called again to provide further insights. The defense team is likely to argue that the lack of physical evidence casts doubt on the prosecution's case and that the defendant's confession was made while intoxicated.

The outcome of the appeal remains uncertain. The court's decision will hinge on its assessment of the defendant's intent, the reliability of his confession, and the weight of the circumstantial evidence presented. The case has garnered significant attention in Bahrain, given that this is the first case where the victim's body is absent.