A man who used an insect spray can to project a stream of flames at police officers had his sentence reduced by the appeals court, which cut his jail term from one year to six months.
Police had gone to the home of the 45-year-old unemployed Bahraini to arrest him after he allegedly terrorised his brother with a chainsaw, threatening to kill him and set the house on fire.
He was initially sentenced to one year in prison by the High Criminal Court for assaulting two on-duty policemen and attempting to obstruct them from carrying out their duties.
However, after contesting the verdict at the Supreme Criminal Appeals Court, judges reduced the sentence by half.
Although it did not find the appellant any less guilty, the court issued the new penalty after ‘a re-evaluation of sentencing’.
The court earlier found the man guilty of attempting to assault police officers, but failing to cause harm due to circumstances beyond his control.
The GDN earlier reported that the man threatened to beat and kill his brother and brandished a knife at him, prompting him to call the police.
When officers arrived at the residence, the brother led them to the appellant’s room. Despite repeated knocks, the appellant refused to open the door.
Police officers then called for backup and sought assistance from the Civil Defence. Once a fireman forced the door open, police and Civil Defence personnel found the appellant standing behind it.
“We were confronted with a stream of flames directed at us from an aerosol can of insecticide, which the accused ignited using a lighter,” an officer told the Public Prosecution.
“The Civil Defence put out the fire with a water hose, after which we arrested the suspect.”
The Bahraini man admitted possessing the insecticide spray can and a plastic lighter but denied the assault charges, claiming he had been intoxicated and had no recollection of the incident.
He recounted that he had a fight with his brother, during which he threw his belongings out of the house. He claimed that his brother withdrew the complaint after which he was released from remand.
“Later, I was informed that I had resisted arrest, but I don’t remember anything because I was not in control of my senses,” he said. “If I had been conscious, I wouldn’t have done it.”
However, police reports contradicted his account, stating that the suspect had threatened his brother with a sharp tool – a chainsaw – and damaged security cameras at the house.
&uuid=(email))