High Criminal Court Orders Psychiatric Evaluation for Accused in Fatal Stabbing Case

TDT | Manama

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The High Criminal Court has ordered a psychiatric evaluation for a 43-year-old man accused of fatally stabbing his best friend and coworker. The evaluation will assess the defendant’s mental state at the time of the incident and determine his culpability. The next hearing is set for January 5th, pending the results of the psychiatric report.

The victim, aged 47, and the accused had been close for over a decade, working together in various Arab countries before moving to Bahrain several years ago. The victim had been living with the defendant’s brother in a labourers’ accommodation. A previous altercation between the victim and the defendant’s older brother over a car had escalated into a verbal dispute, during which the victim insulted the defendant’s mother and sister. Although the defendant was not present during the initial confrontation, he was later informed of the insults by a fellow resident.

Upon learning of the insults, the defendant became enraged. After spending several hours away from the residence with his brother, the defendant returned and confronted the victim. He entered the victim’s room with others, demanding to know who had insulted his family.

The victim admitted to the insults. The defendant then retrieved a knife from the kitchen and returned to the room, where a renewed argument ensued. Despite attempts by other residents to intervene, the defendant fatally stabbed the victim in the chest. Following the attack, the defendant fled the scene and wandered the streets before being apprehended by the police.

A housemate of the victim, aged 23, testified in a previous hearing, describing his unsuccessful attempts to provide first aid. An autopsy revealed that the victim died from a stab wound that pierced his heart and lung, leaving a 2.5cm wound on his left chest. The defendant confessed to the crime during his investigation but pleaded not guilty in court. He claimed to have been intoxicated at the time of the incident.