Inmate football death: Court rejects appeal

Manama

An inmate convicted of killing another during a football match had his appeal rejected.The 21-year-old alleged rioter was implicated in the death of another inmate Fateh Al Redha Al Basri.

The 49-year-old victim died after he collapsed while engaged in an argument with the accused in February year. He was serving a three-year sentence in prison on charges of human trafficking, holding women captive and psychological torture.

He was participating in a football match between inmates at the Dry Dock Detention Centre. He later got into a row with the accused after the latter, who belonged to the opposition team, scored a penalty.

During a court hearing, the accused claimed what happened between them was only a verbal argument and that he tried to save the victim’s life.

"We engaged in a heated argument. But I was shocked when he (the victim) suddenly fell to the ground, motionless," he told the judges. "The other players and I carried him to save his life and we called the police," he added.

However, the victim was declared dead shortly after the incident. A medical examiner's report concluded the only injury the deceased suffered was a blow to the head when he fainted and hit the ground.

A witness, who was playing in the match, told prosecutors earlier the row started when Al Basri showed a gesture after the accused scored from a penalty kick.

He said the accused got mad and started kicked the ball at the victim. Soon both of them stated throwing the ball at each other, he said.