AFGHANISTAN: 3 MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH

April 17, 2013: An Afghan judge in Eastern Kunar province sentenced three men to death for killing a woman in Manogi district. The victim, a 25-year-old, and the mother of four, was allegedly stabbed with a knife before beheading her and setting her body on fire by relatives of her husband in Dara-i-Khar area of the district three months ago.
At the open trial held in the district centre, relatives of the victim and the defendants were present, Pajhwok Afghanistan News reported.
Public prosecutor Lutfullah told the court since one of the three co-accused had confessed to the murder, all of them be punished with death. He sought capital punishment for each Ihsanullah, Mirwais and Gul Amin under article 395 of criminal law.
However, defense council Muhibullah Farooqi said only Ihsanullah had confessed to his crime, and the remaining two should be released.
After both defense and prosecution completed their arguments, judge Bahauddin sentenced all the three accused to death. A fourth person was sentenced to seven years in prison for misleading the jury in the case. (Sources: FNA, 17/04/2013)