Court upholds Murrath’s death sentence

Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence issued against Ahmed Murrath in the murder of popular lawyer and author – Ahmed Najeeb.

The decision to uphold the death sentence was made unanimously, by all Supreme Court judges, during the hearing held to issue the verdict on Tuesday.

The case was appealed at Supreme Court to ensure the validity of the High Court decision to uphold Criminal Court’s verdict to sentence Murrath to death, by Prosecutor General’s Office as all death sentences need to be upheld by Supreme Court before they are enforced.

Supreme Court ruled that Murrath had confessed to the murder during the remand hearing, providing details of how he killed Najeeb. Court said that Murrath’s claim later that the confession was made under duress could not be considered. And that the case was sent to trial after completing its investigation.

Murrath becomes the second death row convict to have his sentence upheld by Supreme Court.

Supreme Court upheld the death sentence against Hussain Humaam in the murder of popular parliamentarian and Islamic scholar Dr. Afrasheem Ali last month.

Murrath said in his confession that Najeeb had been lured into the apartment shared by him and his then lover – Fathimath Hana – at M. Masroora on July 1, 2012.

He said that they made Najeeb sit down in an office chair in the apartment, and had bound his hands and legs using duct tape, putting more tape over his mouth and around his face.

Murrath said he had stabbed Najeeb in the throat with a 4-inch knife with a black handle.

Both Murrath and Hana were sentenced to death by Criminal Court. A sentence which was later upheld by High Court upon appeal.

Murrath and Hana got married while in prison.