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A man has admitted to killing his neighbour with a knife as the much-awaited murder trial got underway at the High Criminal Court yesterday.
The trial began exactly two months after the alleged killing of Ali Mahdi Al Basri, aged 57, whose body was found riddled with stab wounds outside his apartment building in Shakhoora on February 27.
The leading judge read out the charges of premeditated murder to the Bahraini defendant, and asked him a total of three times whether he pleaded guilty or not before he finally answered, ‘Yes’.
A relative of the slain Bahraini man, the defendant had reportedly told policemen that he was waiting for the victim to leave his apartment so he could attack him and end his life.
On the day of the incident, the late Mr Al Basri is said to have left his home at 6.30am to get breakfast for his family, when he ‘got into a fight over a parking spot’ with the defendant, and was eventually slaughtered at his hand.
The defendant’s lawyer asked judges to move his client back to the psychiatric hospital, having been admitted there right after he was arrested on suspicion of murder.
“Your Honours, the defendant suffers from a mental illness, and was receiving treatment for it,” the lawyer stated.
“He is on medication, but after being remanded in Dry Dock Detention Centre, he has been refusing to take his prescribed course, and this has been going on for four to five days.
“I humbly request that he be returned to the psychiatric ward to guarantee his safety and the safety of other individuals with him in detention.”
Meanwhile, veteran attorney Abdulrahman Ghunaim was present in court, representing the family and estate of the victim, and submitted a request to sue the defendant for damages in Civil Court.
“The defendant had planned to kill the victim ahead of time, ambushing him and stabbing him using a lethal weapon,” read a statement from the lawyer.
“The peaceful victim was left with wounds which directly led to him losing his life.
“This hideous crime has inflicted severe material and emotional damage on the plaintiffs – the victim’s blood relatives and legal heirs – having lost their only breadwinner.
“Thus, it is their right to demand compensation for the harm caused by the victim’s loss.”
The GDN earlier reported that there was a history of disputes between the two men, according to the Public Prosecution.
As soon as a report of the alleged crime was received by authorities, a team of prosecutors, crime scene investigators and a medical examiner went to Shakhoora to recover samples from the site of the tragedy and inspect the body.
The late Mr Al Basri was found to have suffered multiple stab wounds, and was buried in his hometown of Janusan, a day after his tragic death.
Judges adjourned the hearing to May 5, when three prosecution witnesses will testify before the court, and both the lawyers of the plaintiffs and victim will have the opportunity to cross-examine them.
zainab@gdnmedia.bh
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