JORDAN: WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR POISONING STEPDAUGHTER

March 16, 2025:

The Grand Criminal Court has sentenced a woman to death by hanging for poisoning her stepdaughter, Roya News reported on March 13, 2025.
This case arose after the victim discovered an illicit relationship between the accused and the neighbor’s son, who is a minor.
The court found the accused guilty of premeditated murder under Article 328/1 of the Penal Code. It was revealed that she is an Arab national and the second wife of the victim's father.
The ruling indicated that the accused and the victim lived in the same house, where a relationship developed between the accused and the neighbor’s son. They communicated via WhatsApp using coded messages.
Twenty days before the murder, the victim uncovered these messages and confronted the accused, who dismissed the codes as harmless.
To further investigate the nature of their relationship, the victim used the accused's phone to send messages to the neighbor's son. When the victim threatened to expose the affair, the accused decided to kill her. After careful consideration, she chose to use Lannate, a brand name for the chemical compound methomyl which is a broad-spectrum insecticide used to control various pests in agriculture.
Lannate is effective against a wide range of insects, including caterpillars, aphids, and beetles. However, it is highly toxic to humans and other non-target organisms, including beneficial insects and wildlife. Due to its potential health risks, the use of Lannate and other methomyl products is regulated in many countries, and proper safety precautions are essential when handling or applying it.
On the day of the crime, the accused asked the victim to retrieve the Lannate from the farm where her father worked, claiming it was needed to kill a viper in the house. Once the victim brought the Lannate, the accused mixed it with water and entered the victim's room to wake her. When the victim requested water, the accused gave her the entire mixture of poisoned water.
After committing the crime, the accused attempted to cover her tracks by burning the bottle used for the poison. However, investigations eventually led to her arrest.
Additionally, the minor involved in the case was tried in the appropriate court.