Muheeth murder convict requests re-examining witness testimony

One of the two minors on death row for murdering Abdul Muheeth from G. Veyru has requested with High Court that witness testimony be re-examined.

Three minors were prosecuted by State in the murder, but only two were convicted.

During the hearing held at High Court on Thursday, defense attorney for the minor, Husnu Suood said that there were some discrepancies in the testimony provided by witnesses during the trial. He said that while most of the witnesses gave their testimony anonymously, some of the witnesses’ had dubious character.

He also said that while one of the witnesses who provided testimony had later sent a letter to Juvenile Court saying that it had been forced out of him against his freewill; the Court had not considered the letter when they meted out their sentence.

He said that there was there doubt regarding his guilt though Court had ruled that he was guilty.

Husnu Suood said that there were many witnesses present when Muheeth was murdered, and that State had failed to provide sufficient guilt that it was the minor who murdered him.

He also said that the State prosecutor on the case was a relative of Muheeth; which the judge promised to clarify.

State prosecutor said that anonymity when providing witness testimony was an option provided by High Court. He also said that Court ruled the minor was “guilty beyond reasonable doubt” because there was nothing substantial enough disproving his guilt. And that small discrepancies did not matter.

Judge Abdul Rauf Ibrahim said that the list of witnesses the defense wanted to bring back to the stand and the reasons why should be sent to them within two days. And that they would review the document and bring the witnesses back to the stand if they found it was needed.

The case is being over seen by Judge Abdul Rauf – who is the lead judge in the case, Judge Ali Sameer, Judge Abdulla Didi, Judge Sujau Usman and Judge Abdulla Hameed.

Muheeth was knifed and murdered on February 19, 2012 at around 1:50 am while he was sitting on a motorbike in the alley opposite Finance Ministry.

Death sentence to the two minors convicted of the murder was the first death sentence issued by Juvenile Court.