Man gets death rap for killing policeman

The High Criminal Court in Bahrain yesterday sentenced a defendant to death for killing a police officer in 2015. It also sentenced 13 more to life in prison and others to jail terms between three and 15 years. It acquitted six suspects.

The court also ordered the revocation of the citizenship of 25 defendants.

The 32 suspects were identified soon after the killing of the police officer in the twin blast on August 28 that also injured several officers and civilians and damaged police cars in Abu Saiba, west of Manama.

They were charged with the premeditated murder, attempted murder, forming a terror group, causing blasts, possessing explosives and incendiary devices, vandalising property belonging to the Ministry of Interior and rioting.

The Public Prosecution said that it based its case on testimonies from public order officers, civilian eyewitnesses, the confessions of the suspects and investigation and technical reports. The first session of the trial began on January 19, 2016, followed by other sessions.

The defendants have the right to challenge the rulings at the Court of Appeals and subsequently at the Cassation Court.