I do not trust the way the trial was conducted: Murrath

Mohamed Murrath of M. Masroorage, convicted for the murder of famous writer and lawyer Ahmed Najeeb, has said that he does not trust the way his trial was conducted by the Criminal Court.

Murrath made his statement in High Court today at his first appeal hearing.

When asked by the High Court bench whether he was allowed an opportunity to obtain the services of a lawyer, Murrath said that he did not believe that the trail would be fair and so, did not hire for a lawyer.

“I did not believe then that the trial would be fair. I did not use the opportunity of a lawyer,” Murrath said.

He however said that he wants to carry out the High Court appeal process with the aid of a lawyer, mainly because he is now being tried in a different court.

He also said that he does not have the means to hire a lawyer, and that he desires for the state to appoint one for him.

Assistant Public Prosecutor Adam Arif told the court today that the State too would also like to proceed after appointing a lawyer to represent Murrath.

Concluding today’s trial, the chair of the High Court bench presiding over Murrath's case, Judge Abdul Ghanee Mohamed said the court will forward Murraths statement to the Attorney General’s office and request the office to appoint a lawyer for Murrath.

Ahmed Najeeb was brutally murdered by Ahmed Murrath and his girlfriend Fathimath Hana of Shaviyani Goyedhoo Riyaab in M. Masroorage, after tying Najeeb to a chair and stabbing him the neck.

Criminal Court also gave Hana the death sentence, which she too has appealed in High Court.