Court to issue verdict over Anas murder in a month
Five years have passed since the murder, and the hearings in the case concluded on Thursday.
By
Fathmath Ahmed Shareef
Criminal Court on Thursday concluded hearings in the murder case of Mohamed Anas, who was stabbed to death in Male, with Judge Ali Nadeem announcing that a verdict would be pronounced within the next 30 days.
Mohamed Anas, Fenfiyazge/R. Meedhoo was brutally murdered on July 31, 2017.
Eight people were charged in the case:
-
Mohamed Shaz, Gulfaamge/Th. Kinbidhoo
-
Afrah Abdul Razzaq, M. Lonumidilige/ Male
-
Junaid Abdulla, Nannarige/ L. Gan
-
Hassan Mahfooz, Westernvilla/ S. Feydhoo
-
Simah Moosa, Daftar No. 1746/ Male
-
Ahmed Zayan, Asurumaage/ Lh. Kurendhoo
-
Usman Shareef, M. Damascus/ Male
-
A minor was also charged; he was convicted and sentenced to 18 years in prison in October
Five years have passed since the murder, and the hearings in the case concluded on Thursday.
During the hearing, the state pointed out that most of the prosecution witnesses were not examined in the court, and that they could not identify the assailants.
The state had earlier pointed out that confidential witnesses produced by the prosecution were threatened.
-
Some witnesses did not turn up for last month's hearing; prosecution witnesses could not be examined on the day
-
The state told the court that the witnesses did not appear before the court as they were being influenced and threatened
-
On Thursday, the state said it can prove its case on the basis of documentary evidence.
In the summary statement presented on Thursday, the defence pointed out that since the witnesses could not identify the assailants, they could not be convicted.
The defence said:
-
A criminal case cannot be decided on the basis of half-evidence
-
The prosecution has not produced sufficient evidence to prove the guilt of the accused
Case summary
After investigating Anas's death, the police had said at the time that he was not killed with a plan to attack him directly, but that it happened "by accident" when the assailants had tried to attack someone else.
Anas had around 24 stab wounds on various parts of his body. There were a lot of wounds and bruises.
