The Criminal Court on Sunday sentenced Adhuham Mohamed to death in connection with the murder of taxi driver Gasim Hassan.
Gasim was found critically injured on a deserted street in the reclaimed suburbs Hulhumale' on the night of December 4, 2019. He died at Hulhumale' Hospital while being treated for the deep wounds sustained to his neck and arm in the attack. After the fingerprint and DNA of the assailant were obtained at the crime scene and the murder weapon was recovered, the police took a suspect into their custody. Investigation found the suspect, Adhuham Mohamed of Boduhiyaage, Lh. Hinnavaru, had attacked the taxi driver in a foiled robbery attempt, and an intentional homicide with a sharp object charge was filed against the suspect.
Adam had previously pleaded guilty to the charges. However, he later changed his statement and said the attack was not intentional and that he assaulted Gawim in an intoxicated state.
Judge Ali Nadeem, who heard the case, said that although Adhuham spoke differently during the investigation and trial, it was clear that Gasim died from being attacked with a knife he was carrying. The Judge said although Adhuham said the attack was not intentional, the intent for murder can be proven as Adhuham had ignored Gasim's plea for help after the stabbing and left him to die in the taxi. The fact that Adhuham hid the murder weapon and disposed of his clothes also proves his actions were deliberate and his intention to hide the murder, the Judge said.
