Najeeb murder convict Murrath denies statements given in Criminal Court

Ahmed Murrath, who has been convicted of the murder of lawyer Ahmed Najeeb and sentenced to death by Criminal Court, has denied all previous statements given by him in Criminal Court.

At the appeal trial in High Court today, Murrath also denied the charges pressed against him by the State.

Murrath’s lawyer Abdul Hakeem Rashad pointed out that there were no witnesses for Murrath’s act of murdering Najeeb.

“Murrath has said that he did not kill Ahmed Najeeb deliberately. Since there was no one who saw Murrath killing Ahmed Najeeb, he can be cleared of his earlier confession to the murder. Based on the legal framework, Murrath does have this right,” Abdul Hakeem said.

Abdul Hakeem further said that with his hands cuffed behind his back, Murrath was in a state of fear when he confessed to the murder in Criminal Court.

State Prosecutor Adam Arif highlighted that there were inconsistencies in the statements given by Murrath in High Court on two occasions, and requested for an opportunity to respond to those statements.

The presiding judges allowed the State to present its response before adjourning the trial today.

Murrath’s girlfriend Fathimath Hana, who has also been convicted by Criminal Court of the murder of Ahmed Najeeb, has also appealed her death sentence in High Court.

Murrath has earlier confessed that he and Hana tied Ahmed Najeeb to an office chair in a house called Masroorage, and killed him by stabbing him in the neck.