A MAN who struck a police officer with a small axe during a chase was sentenced to three years in prison.
The High Criminal Court found the 32-year-old Bahraini guilty of assaulting the officer on May 29 this year.
The defendant claimed he was unaware that he was being chased by police officers but overwhelming evidence confirmed his guilt.
“While officers were on patrol in Muharraq, a number of people, including the defendant, in a vehicle aroused their suspicions,” said the court ruling.
“The police identified themselves and asked the individuals to pull over but they refused and sped off.
“The police followed in pursuit and the vehicle driven by the defendant crashed so officers approached on foot.
“That is when the 32-year-old jumped out of the window to run away and he was followed by a 33-year-old Bahraini police officer.
“The 33-year-old managed to corner the 32-year-old, and proceeded to identify himself once again when the defendant pulled out a small axe and struck the officer in his hand before running away again.”
In case files, the weapon was identified as a “solid tool that has a hand attached to an arm that works to open and close the head of this tool – it has two opposite sides – one in the form of a hammer and the other the head of a small axe”.
During interrogations, the defendant told prosecutors that he was acting in self-defence.
He alleged that he was unaware it was a police chase.
“Overwhelming evidence in the case files in addition to witness statements confirmed that the police officers identified themselves multiple times to the defendant prior to the pursuit,” the ruling said.
“The 33-year-old also identified himself as a police officer to the defendant after catching him prior to being struck with an axe.”
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