The Criminal Court has ruled that the two individuals charged by the state in the case of a man stabbed to death inside a shop in Malé are not guilty.
The state had pressed charges against Ibrahim Faih Nizam of Rahdhebaige, S. Maradhoo-Feydhoo, and Siruhaan Ali of Guleynooranmaage, Th. Gaadhiffushi, for the February 2023 murder of Mohamed Ahmed Didi of Irumeezu, S. Hithadhoo, while he was inside a shop on Muranga Magu in Maafannu.
The verdict delivered by the Criminal Court last Thursday stated that, based on the analysis report of the video footage submitted by the state, the report was not sufficient to confirm with certainty that the two defendants were the attackers.
Furthermore, the verdict noted that in the video submitted by the state, claimed to show the attackers active on the street later, the individuals were wearing different clothing, and since the faces of some individuals were not clearly visible, the incident could not be linked to the defendants.
According to the verdict, although the state submitted video footage from a house where Faih was allegedly hiding after the incident as evidence, the timestamp on that footage was dated the year 2000.
The verdict stated that since the state could not explain why this was the case, it raised doubts as to whether the footage was related to the incident. Although DNA from Faih and another person, as well as the deceased, was found on a counter in the shop, the verdict stated that this alone could not be considered evidence to link Faih to the incident.
The reason cited in the verdict was that the person who analyzed the DNA stated that the DNA could have remained there for many years.
Therefore, since the timeframe in which Faih's DNA was transferred to that location is unknown, there is doubt as to whether the DNA was transferred during that specific incident. The verdict also noted that since the DNA of an unidentified third person was found at the scene, there is a possibility that a third person committed the crime.
"It is not known whether these samples were compared with the samples of those who worked in the shop at the time of the incident or the first responders who treated the deceased Mohamed Ahmed Didi to rule them out. Therefore, the theory that the criminal act was committed by another third party is an inference drawn from the evidence. Furthermore, since the shop is a place generally accessible to anyone, the possibility of Ibrahim Faih Nizam's DNA being transferred there in some manner is a likely one," the verdict stated.
While the fingerprint of the defendant Siruhaan was found inside the shop, the verdict noted that the fingerprints of seven other unidentified people were also found there.
Since it was not checked whether the fingerprints of those who worked there or those who went to treat the deceased matched the fingerprints found at the scene, the verdict stated there is a possibility that the attack was carried out by the individuals to whom the unidentified fingerprints belong.
According to the verdict, overall, the state submitted only circumstantial evidence against the two individuals. While direct testimony was unavailable, the state submitted matters that could lead to an inference of guilt; however, the verdict stated that the links in the chain of evidence were not connected.
Since the defendants raised the defense that they were not at the scene at that time and submitted evidence to prove it, the verdict stated that this strengthened the defense's claim.
"Due to the aforementioned gaps in the sequence of evidence, a reasonable possibility arises that the defendants could be innocent," stated the verdict delivered by Judge Ibrahim Ihsan.
Noting these points, the verdict concluded by ruling that the two individuals were not found guilty of the crime.
