Bahraini man breaks down in court admitting to Sanad girl murder

TDT | Manama                   

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

A 35-year-old Bahraini man arrested in connection with the discovery of the decomposed body of a girl in Sanad admitted in court to killing her. He, however, maintained that it was not premeditated and broke down emotionally during the trial.

The new details and the dramatic circumstances surrounding the case unfolded as the Fourth High Criminal Court commenced its hearing during the first session of the trial yesterday.

The Public Prosecution had charged him with murder and assault, offences that could potentially result in a 14-year prison sentence. Additionally, he faces charges of violating the victim’s body after her death.

As the judges read out the charges, the accused, who had remained composed until then, suddenly broke down, collapsing to the ground and bursting into tears. Providing a harrowing account and revealing further gruesome details of the murder, the man claimed that the victim had been blackmailing him with pictures and videos of him, using them as leverage to demand money from him.

Amidst sobs and a struggle to find words, he explained, "I killed her because she was blackmailing me with pictures and videos, demanding large sums of money in exchange for them." He continued, "But it was unintentional.

After I hit her on the neck and she fainted, blood started oozing from her mouth and nose. I then proceeded to strangle her and keep her body in my car for the entire day. On the following day, I took the victim’s body to the coast of Sanad, placed it beneath a tree, and left the area."

He also recounted before the court how he later inserted a piece of iron into the victim’s neck to ensure her death. He noted that a small part of the iron remained lodged in her neck, indicating that her body had become rigid.

The court scheduled the next hearing for July 20. The Daily Tribune had earlier reported finding the girl’s decomposed body in an abandoned condition in a remote location in Sanad.

The initial investigation itself had established the presence of a criminal motive following the examination of the crime scene by forensic and crime scene experts. Quickly after, investigators also said they had arrested a person in connection with the case who had confessed to killing the girl following a heated argument.

The authorities said they identified the victim through a DNA test and by utilising circumstantial evidence as well as testimonies from witnesses and family members of the victim. Public prosecutors took the suspect to the crime scene and conducted a photographic examination of how he committed the crime.

During the investigation, the deputy chief of the Capital Governorate Prosecution confirmed the collection of samples and crucial evidence by forensic experts from the crime scene.