DEATH SENTENCE OF KUWAITI COMMUTED IN COLLEAGUE’S MURDER

the Court of Appeals in Kuwait commuted to life imprisonment the death sentence of a Kuwaiti man, identified as Jarrah N., who was charged with the premeditated murder of his colleague at Sabhan Fire Station. Case files indicate the suspect got furious with the victim’s way of playing jokes on him, which he deemed insulting and prompted him to kill the victim. The suspect allegedly went to work that day with a pistol and dagger hidden in his car. He shot the victim twice in the chest at a distance of about two meters, and then allegedly got closer and again fired at the victim’s face before fleeing. During interrogation, Jarrah admitted the crime and told police he got furious at the victim’s attitude towards him. He also confessed to the crime when he appeared before the Public Prosecution and the Detention Renewal Judge but argued he had no intention to kill the victim prior to the incident. On April 30, 2007, the Criminal Court sentenced Jarrah to capital punishment and ordered transfer of the case to the Court of Appeals within one month. It has also referred the civil lawsuit to a related court. Judge Mohamed Bu Slaib presided over the session.