Humaam given ten days to prepare defence

Hussain Humaam Ahmed, who has been convicted of the murder of Dr Afrasheem Ali and sentenced to death, has been given ten days to prepare his defence in the ongoing appeal trial in High Court.

Speaking in court today, Humaam said that the people best-informed about the truth behind Dr Afrasheem Ali’s death, would be President Abdulla Yameen and Minister of Tourism Ahmed Adeeb.

He was stopped by the presiding judges, who told him that he cannot make those statements at this hearing, and will be allowed to do so later.

The date for the next hearing has not been announced.

Humaam changed his statements several times during the trial in Criminal Court.

He first said that he had murdered people in the past, but did not murder Dr Afrasheem Ali.

Later, he confessed to killing Dr Afrasheem Ali by attacking him with a machete.

Humaam said that he did not confess earlier to protect his family, and decided to confess when the state presented evidence against him.

Dr Afrasheem Ali was murdered on the night of 1 October 2012.