DEATH SENTENCES UPHELD IN JORDAN VALLEY MURDER

Jordan’s Court of Cassation upheld the death sentences passed by the Criminal Court against two men on February 20 for the 2004 rape and murder of a man. Amar A., 21 and Motaz Y., 20, had been found guilty of raping and murdering their friend Mohammad Ali after consuming alcohol in a deserted area of the Jordan Valley. Court transcripts said the two defendants headed to a resort in the Jordan Valley on May 28, 2004, to drink alcohol where they met with Ali on the way. The three started drinking, the court said, and Amar intentionally increased the amount for Ali to lower his defences, then two hours later, they raped and killed him.