The heirs of taxi driver Gasim Hassan, 59 years old, who was murdered on 4 December 2019, has stated that they seek death penalty for his murder.

The hearing to take statements of Gasim’s heirs was held at the Criminal Court on Sunday.

Adhuham Mohamed charged with first-degree murder in the trial, under the Act on Prohibiting ‎Threatening and Possession of Dangerous Weapons and Sharp ‎Objects, was convicted of killing the taxi driver.

Judge Ali Nadheem, who is presiding over the murder case has highlighted that although Adham had spoken differently about how he attacked Gasim on several occasions during the investigation, he had admitted to stabbing him.

The judge has said that the DNA found in the car and the DNA found in the knife matched Adhuham's DNA.

Adhuham was arrested on 19 December 2019, after Gasim’s dead body was discovered lying face-down in a puddle of blood on the road in Hulhumalé on 4 December 2019.

Police earlier confirmed that Adhuham has a long criminal history including theft and cases related to drugs.

During Sunday's hearing, the court proved that Gasim had five children by the time of he was murderd. His wife and parents were not alive when he was murdered.

Four of Gasim's sons and his daughter, stated that they seek the death penalty for his murder.

The decision was made by Gasim's heirs after the prosecution explained the decisions they can make in connection with Ziyadham’s murder. As such, the prosecution explained that the heirs have the option of seeking death for his murder, not seeking death and accepting compensation for his death, or not seeking either death or compensation for his murder.

Speaking at the hearing, Adham apologized to all the heirs and said he had done it while under the influence of drugs. He said it was not an attack he had planned and that he did not attack Gasim intentionally. Adham said that it wasn’t because it was Gasim in particular either.

Speaking on the punishment, the prosecution asked the court to impose the death penalty on Adham.

Speaking about the punishment, Adham's lawyer noted that Adham pleaded guilty even though he retracted it later on and then pleaded guilty again after he withdrew from his confession. The lawyer went onto say that Adham is apologizing and asking for forgiveness.

Next will be the hearing to discuss and determine the sentence of the case.