A DEFENCE lawyer has requested murder charges to be reduced to manslaughter in the trial of a man, who bludgeoned another to death with a hammer and brick.
Deena Al Qumaish, representing a 30-year-old Bangladeshi national on trial for murder, argued in court yesterday that her client meant to assault the victim and not kill him.
Her client is standing trial for premeditated murder at the High Criminal Court, along with two other fellow nationals, aged 31 and 33, for killing 42-year-old Samsul Moushed, also a Bangladeshi national, over an unpaid debt.
The victim was reportedly still alive when the fatal blow was struck – having survived a vicious attack with a hammer in the incident on May 14 in Daih.
The 30-year-old defendant, who admitted to delivering the fatal blow during questioning, claimed he had no idea his co-defendants intended to murder their victim.
“My client denied the charges and told prosecutors he only wanted to assault the victim,” said Ms Al Qumaish in court.
“Therefore, I request the court to reduce the charge of premeditated murder to manslaughter.
“In addition, there is no evidence against him and only the detective’s investigation – this is not sufficient to find him guilty of murder.
“The investigation carried out also lacks solid information and the defendants confessed under duress.”
All the three defendants could face the death penalty if convicted of premeditated murder.
A police detective, who previously testified in court, said the investigation showed that the defendants allegedly lured the victim to a waste ground in Daih where they killed him.
One of the men previously said during questioning that Mr Moushed “wouldn’t die from the hammer”.
Another defence lawyer previously claimed his client suffered from a mental illness and requested him to be sent for a psychiatric evaluation.
Report
However, a report submitted to the court showed the defendant did not suffer from any mental illnesses.
The hearing has been adjourned until January 27 for a ruling.
The GDN previously reported on another Bangladeshi man, 35-year-old Solayman Miah, who was also murdered by a fellow countryman in the same week.
Mr Miah was killed by being repeatedly struck in the head with a hammer at his home in Tubli on May 18.
However, the incidents are not believed to be connected and a Bangladeshi suspect is standing trial in the same court for premeditated murder.
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