*** ----> Bahrain court spares man accused of girlfriend’s murder | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Bahrain court spares man accused of girlfriend’s murder

Manama: A person who was found guilty of cruelly murdering his Thai girlfriend has been spared life imprisonment on a second appeal.

The defendant was earlier given the death penalty for his crime by the High Criminal Court, but the High Criminal Appeals Court reduced it to life imprisonment.

He, however, challenged the second verdict, and the Cassation Court - Bahrain’s highest court - made further reduction to his sentence, handing him 15 years in prison. 

Thidarat Choochan, 31, was found dead with multiple burn marks at a Hoora apartment on November 3, 2013. 

The defendant reportedly sexually assaulted, tortured and then murdered the victim - who was in relationship with him since 2009 - following a financial row, according to court files.

Police said that they had earlier received 26 complaints against the defendant, ranging from substance abuse to  physical assault.