An abusive husband has been sentenced to life in prison for attempting to kill his wife in the middle of a street in Sitra, as their son stood between them trying to stop the attack.
The 43-year-old victim was saved by residents of the Kharijiya neighbourhood, who bravely intervened to halt the assault before taking her into their home and providing first aid.
The High Criminal Court found the 44-year-old Bahraini defendant guilty of premeditated attempted murder, and ordered the confiscation of the knife used to stab her in the chest.
He was also ordered to pay his Bahraini wife BD5,001 in temporary compensation while she pursues damages against him in civil court.
Just the day before the incident, the defendant had tried to run her over with his car. According to the victim, he repeatedly told her: “I am done – you’ll die and I’ll go to prison.”
“The defendant attempted to kill the woman who married him, bore his children and called him her husband,” the verdict read.
“She expected him to be a safe haven, a source of warmth and support, a partner with whom she could build a life based on love and respect, someone who would make her feel protected and shoulder responsibility.
“She needed a man who would stand by her regardless of his circumstances, who would be her rock and support, especially in difficult times.
“Instead, he betrayed her by attempting to end her life, as if he owned her and had the right to decide whether she should continue to live – as though, by becoming his wife, she had placed her life in his hands to do with as he pleased.”
The verdict added that the defendant had planned to kill his wife in advance, stashing the murder weapon and a container of fuel in his car before going to where she was. According to the court, he was unable to carry out the killing due to factors outside his control – thanks to strangers who saved the woman’s life.
The incident took place on December 1, when the woman returned from a trip with friends and got into her car to drive home. He appeared suddenly, pouring fuel over the vehicle in an attempt to set it on fire.
He then attacked the windshield with a hammer, smashing it.
The long-suffering wife recounted that he said: “You will die, I don’t care if I go to jail,” while she pleaded with him to spare her so she could take care of their children.
When he briefly moved away from the scene, she seized the opportunity to exit the damaged car and ran for her life.
He then brandished a ‘large knife’ and chased after her through the neighbourhood. The terrified woman paused momentarily to catch her breath, at which point he caught up with her and plunged the blade into her chest.
According to court documents, the couple’s 13-year-old son ran out of his father’s car and tried to hold him back, standing between his parents – but this did not stop the attack.
He stabbed his wife in the chest a second time, and then in the shoulder.
Hearing her screams, several nearby residents rushed to the scene.
An 18-year-old university student reportedly grabbed the defendant’s arm, while a 53-year-old woman saw the victim covered in blood, and moved her away from the assailant, helping her into her home.
The verdict stated that the defendant continued to pursue the victim, attempting to enter the house where she had taken shelter, but he was prevented from doing so by one of the residents.
The wife was taken to the hospital, where she spent 48 hours in the intensive care unit (ICU) after undergoing an emergency surgery. She was resuscitated and given a blood transfusion.
After 16 days, she was discharged, but returned to the hospital six days later suffering from a fever and breathing difficulties. She was hospitalised again and underwent further surgery.
A medical report stated that the knife was plunged 3cm to 5cm into the Bahraini woman’s chest, leaving her with torn and bruised lungs and internal bleeding. The wound to her arm was also around 5cm deep.
“The attack targeted vital organs and blood vessels, and it is considered a life-threatening assault,” read the report. “The victim’s life was saved through surgery.”
The defendant earlier admitted to charges. His criminal record shows a long history of charges and convictions related to domestic violence, child abuse and sexual harassment.
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