Appeal hearings end in Najeeb

The appeal hearings of Fathimath Hanaa, who has been convicted and sentenced to death by the Criminal Court for the murder of the lawyer and writer, Ahmed Najeeb, has ended today.

Criminal Court convicted Hanaa and sentenced her to death three years ago on 19 July 2012.

While the hearing in the appeal officially ended some time ago, another hearing was held today after a change was made to the bench of judges in the case.

At the hearing today, after both the prosecution and the defense said that they have no more questions, the Head Judge on the bench, Ali Sameer ended the session saying that the next session would be the sentencing.

Both the prosecution and the defense presented their closing statements at the previous hearing.

Hanaa appeared in court today wearing a hijab (head scarf) unlike the previous hearings. She was not wearing a hijab before.

The judge’s bench on the trial makes up of the Head Judge, Ali Sameer, Judge Abdul Ghanee Mohamed, Judge Abdulla Hameed, Judge Shujaau Usman and Judge Abdul Rauf Ibrahim.

Aside from Hana, her lover, Murrath was also sentenced to death by the Criminal Court and the High Court has supported that decision.