Father sentenced to 8 years for killing daughter
JEDDAH. October 9. KAZINFORM A self-proclaimed Saudi preacher was sentenced on Monday to eight years in prison and 800 lashes for torturing his 5-year-old daughter, Lama, to death.
Human Rights Commission (HRC) lawyer Turki Al-Rasheed confirmed the sentence was handed down by the court in Hawtat Bani Tamim, which is 160 kilometers south of the capital Riyadh.
Lama's mother declined her private right to demand the death penalty for her ex-husband Fayhan Al-Ghamdi.
Al-Ghamdi's second wife was sentenced to 10 months in prison and 150 lashes for failing to report the torture inflicted on Lama.
Al-Rasheed said the HRC wanted the death penalty, but the mother settled her private right for SR10 million, which was later negotiated with the defendant's team to SR1 million.
The defendant was given 30 days to appeal the verdict.
Feriyal Al-Kinj, a Saudi lawyer, said: "Lama's mother has the right to demand blood money. However, the judge considered the killing unintentional.
This sentence will encourage fathers to abuse their children."
She said domestic violence was on the increase in the country because of a lack of laws deterring domestic violence.
Source: ARAB NEWS