Man convicted for elderly taxi driver's murder
Next there will be a hearing in this case to decide the quantum of punishment by taking the words of Gasim’s heirs.
By
Fathmath Ahmed Shareef
Criminal Court on Sunday found Adhuham Mohamed guilty of voluntary manslaughter in connection with the murder of taxi driver Gasim Hassan.
Gasim was stabbed to death in Hulhumale on the night of December 4, 2019. The prosecution has filed a charge sheet in the case:
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Adhuham Mohamed, Boduhiyaage/Lh. Hinnavaru
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On December 20, the police nabbed Adhuham while he was on the run after killing Gasim
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Adhuham has been charged with voluntary manslaughter using a sharp object
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Adhuham killed Gasim while trying to extort money from him by threatening him, says state
During Sunday's hearing, the court ruled that Adhuham was guilty beyond reasonable doubt of culpable homicide.
In its judgment, the court said:
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Adhuham had chosen an elderly man's taxi, having thought the crime out, since the elderly man could not defend himself from an attack or robbery
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Adhuham claimed to have sharpened the knife he was carrying before getting into the car
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Gasim was being instructed to drive on dark and isolated roads
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Gasim was stabbed in the neck with intent to kill
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Adhuham says the knife had cut through a car seat in the slashing stroke when he cut Gasim’s throat, and the sign of the same was seen in the seat of the car
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Adhuham tried to flee after stabbing Gasim while he was shouting for help
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Doctors pointed out that Gasim could have been saved if he was treated early on
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The fact that Gasim was left in a remote place while he was asking for help was a direct case of murder
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Although Adhuham said he had no intention of killing Gasim, he had seen the excessive bleeding from the wound he had inflicted and even saw Gasim getting out of the car and shouting for help, but he did not help and left instead
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Apart from fingerprints, CCTV footage also provides enough evidence to convict Adhuham
Next there will be a hearing in this case to decide the quantum of punishment by taking the words of Gasim’s heirs. The trial court did not announce the date for that in Sunday’s hearing.
If Gasim's heirs ask for Adhuham’s death, he will be sentenced to death. However, if any one heir refuses to do so, the agreement with the state will reduce his sentence to imprisonment. Adhuham will then face up to 17 years and six months in prison.
Here's what happened during the hearings
Adhuham had earlier confessed to the murder during a police investigation and during the trial on February 12, 2020. Adhuham pleaded guilty the same day after entering into an agreement with the state.
When the prosecution filed a charge sheet in the trial court, Adhuham said the same day:
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The charges are clear and confessed to Gasim’s murder
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It was done in an inebriated state
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Now I am ashamed and saddened by this
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He had repented for the crime committed and had also offered the prayer for redemption
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He also apologises to Gasim's family for the crime committed
In the next hearing, he denied the charges after narrating how he murdered Gasim before and even saying he was ashamed of the crime committed and apologising for the crime committed. During the hearing after denying the charges, Adhuham said:
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Confessed to the crime after being beaten up by the police
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Later, Adhuham again pleaded not guilty to the charges
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This time, Adhuham requested the trial court to conclude the case as involuntary manslaughter
