High Court orders retrial in Aseel murder case

High Court today ordered a retrial in the case of Aseel Ahmed's killing, where the accused had earlier been acquitted. 

Aseel was killed in August 2014 on the street in front of Iskandhar School. He was attacked with a sharp object by a group of assailants. 

In the case, the State pressed charges of terrorism against Ahmed Nimshad, Sweet Dream, GDh. Thinadhoo, Ahmed Shiruhan Jaufar, Hulhumale' 10118, Ismail Rifau, Male' Register no. 6566, Ihsan Rasheed, Aabahaaruge, GDh. Vaadhoo, Hassan Isaam Mohamed, M. Goldbird-lily, and Sharif Shareef, Ma. Raalhuerige. 

The Criminal Court acquitted all accused. The State then appealed the acquittal at the High Court. 

In today's ruling in the appeal case, the High Court stated that while the Criminal Court's verdict of acquittal claimed that evidence had not been received, it failed to provide a reason for the decision. The lower court verdict also did not state what could be learned from the evidence, the High Court ruling said. 

The High Court ruling stated that the Criminal Court appeared to have not considered the evidence submitted by the State in reaching their verdict. Hence, at this stage, the High Court cannot review and weigh the evidence. Hence, the High Court ordered a retrial in the case where the Criminal Court is to take into consideration the submitted evidence. 

The High Court verdict was reached unanimously by the three judge bench. The bench consisted of Judge Mohamed Shaneez Abdulla, Judge Mohamed Faisal and Judge Hassan Shafeeu, with Judge Shaneez presiding. 

While the case has been sent for retrial, two minors involved in the case were sentenced to prison in 2016 by the Juvenile Court. The High Court upheld the sentence against one of them in 2020.