Court Upholds One-Year Sentence for Man Who Assaulted Friend in Car

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

Report by H Naser

In a ruling that underscores the serious consequences of violent behaviour, the High Criminal Court upheld a one-year prison sentence for a man who assaulted his friend during a late-night car ride, inflicting a permanent disability estimated at 3 percent.

The incident occurred around 1:30 AM, when the victim, who was driving, became embroiled in a verbal dispute with the 29-year-old defendant. What began as a heated exchange quickly escalated into violence. Without warning, the defendant struck the victim multiple times in the face, forcing him to pull over to the side of the road.

But the assault did not end there. According to court documents, the defendant wrapped his arm around the victim’s neck and bit his left ear with considerable force, continuing the attack for approximately 15 seconds. In a further act of aggression, he pressed his finger into the victim’s left eye. Witnesses arrived shortly after the altercation began, intervening to separate the two men and restore order.

Surprised

“I never thought our argument would lead to this. I was surprised by his attack and how violent he had become. It’s hard to process that someone I considered a friend could act in such a way. This experience has left me shaken," the victim told prosecutors.

During the investigation, the defendant confessed to the charges against him. A forensic report corroborated the victim's injuries, confirming that he sustained damage to his left ear, classified as a permanent disability. The court also took note of the defendant’s prior convictions for similar offenses, highlighting a troubling pattern of behavior.