Death sentence in Udhayyu murder case appealed at High Court

The death sentence issued by the Criminal Court to the two individuals convicted of intentional murder in the death of Ahmed Udhayyu in GA. Maamendhoo has been appealed at the High Court. 

17 year old Udhayyu was killed in GA. Maamendhoo in February 2021 in a violent altercation. In the case, the Criminal Court found two Maamendhoo residents - Ahmed Shameem, Rihifarudhaage, and Mohamed Mazin, Gulfaamuge - guilty of intentional murder. 

Last Thursday, the two submitted an appeal against the Criminal Court sentence to the High Court, which is yet to decide on whether it will accept the case. 

Also charged in the case was Sharaf Rasheed, Bileiymaage, GA. Maamendhoo. The court found him not guilty on the charge of intentional murder. However, he was convicted of assault with a sharp object.

Two weeks ago, the State appealed Sharaf's acquittal at the High Court. 

At the hearing where heirs of the victim spoke ahead of sentencing, Udhayyu's father asked the court to pass the harshest possible sentence against them, requesting for a death sentence in accordance with Islamic Shariah. 

Udhayyu's mother said that she is willing to grant forgiveness if Shameem and Mazin confess truthfully to what they had done to Udhayyu. Tearfully, she told the court that although she was ready to grant forgiveness, she recalls in detail the events of the night of the murder. 

The mother said that she remembers how after committing the act, Mazin had declared that he was the 'king'. 

When Shameem and Mazin were allowed to respond, they denied involvement in any actions that caused harm to Udhayyu.