AN accused crazed car bonnet burner claimed he was defending the honour of his mother, a court heard.
The 38-year-old driver allegedly set fire to the vehicle in Hamad Town. He is standing trial at the High Criminal Court and facing charges related to arson and the destruction of property.
The Bahraini, who lives in the area, claimed on Sunday that he was suffering from mental health issues.
According to the victim, a Bahraini of the same age, the incident occurred on June 18, at around 10.15am.
He claimed that when he stepped out of the house that day he noticed that his car was on fire, and immediately tackled the flames in an unsuccessful attempt to extinguish them.
He called the Civil Defence for help and they arrived within minutes. Investigators, aiming to discover the source of the fire, looked at footage from security cameras that the victim had installed in his house.
They reportedly saw an unidentified individual approaching the vehicle on a motorcycle, who began to pour a liquid substance on the bonnet of the car. He set fire to the vehicle, and then immediately fled the scene.
Sources revealed to investigators the identity of the culprit, who at the time, was wearing a beige shirt, black pants and a maroon helmet.
According to the footage, he had a plastic container with him, which contained a liquid substance, and he set fire to it using a lighter.
Laboratory tests later confirmed via samples that were collected from the scene of the crime, that the liquid substance was a highly-flammable petroleum.
Further investigations from the Civil Defence were able to prove that the fire was started deliberately.
Based on how the fire spread, it was confirmed that it started at the bonnet of the vehicle and then later moved to other parts.
Less than two hours later, the defendant was arrested by the Northern Police Directorate.
The driver was interrogated, the court heard, and admitted to being the man in the video and for committing the crime ‘in retaliation’.
He was in conflict with the victim, who allegedly ‘insulted his mother’, and this set him on the fiery path of revenge.
During the High Criminal Court hearing, the judge questioned the defendant on whether he was undergoing treatment for any psychological issues. The accused stated that he had in the past, but could not remember the name or nature of the illness that he suffered from.
The case has been adjourned until Sunday.
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