Ziyadham's murder: Shanoon guilty of first-degree murder

Mohamed Shanoon has been found guilty of murdering Ali Ziyadham, native to Mundoo island of Laamu atoll.

Verdict hearing of the murder of Ali Ziyadham was held on Sunday morning, at the Criminal Court. Hearings of Ziyadham's murder has been going on for seven years.

Ali Ziyadham was murdered on March 20, 2015. He was killed after being attacked with a sharp object in Mundoo. Charges were raised against two people over the murder.

Mohamed Shanoon and Ali Sifam, are both charged with first degree murder.

As per the charge, both suspects is reported to have stabbed Ziyadham with an eight-inch sharp object, while he was passing by the island’s temporary shelter. While the victim attempted to flee from his attackers, Shanoon and Sifam are reported to have chased him and attacked him, ultimately killing him.

In addition to the first-degree murder charge, Shanoon was also charged with issuing threats and violence; he is also accused of attacking one of the people who carried Ziyadham to the hospital, as well as threatening an individual near the hospital.

The summary statement was also taken during a hearing held this year.

In reference to the evidence brought to the court by the government prosecutors, Ziyadham, Sifaam and Shanoon used to hangout together. On the night the murder took place, the three men were together, drinking alcohol. Disruptions occurred due to some remarks Ziyadham made about Sifam's sibling.

This led to the fight, which resulted in Ziyadham's murder. As such, the prosecutors noted that while evidence was found of Shanoon attacking Ziyadham with the knife, there is no concrete evidence of Sifam attacking him with a knife as well.

Hence, while Shanoon was found guilty of first degree murder, Sifam was found guilty of assisting with a murder.

Presiding over the case is Judge Ismail Shafeeu.