Qatar judge sets verdict date for American expat murder
The verdict in the murder case of American expatriate teacher Jennifer Brown by an African security guard has been scheduled for April 14.
Based on the demand by the victims’ family, their lawyer sought life imprisonment for the accused on Sunday during the hearing at the Doha Criminal Court.
A representative of the US embassy was present in the court, alongside the accused, his lawyer and the representative of his embassy in Doha.
The defence argued that the case should not be treated as premeditated murder but it should be classified as beating that resulted in death. He said the accused did not have any intention to kill the teacher.
The lawyer claimed that the accused was called into the apartment by the victim, who asked him to do some repair work. "A fight started between them, which made him beat her up."
The defence lawyer also argued that the accused was not carrying a weapon with him and the knife used in the crime was taken from the kitchen of the victim.
Jennifer Brown was killed in November 2012 in her apartment at Al-Sadd area.
