AMMAN — Three men were sentenced to death on Sunday by the State Security Court (SSC) after being found guilty of attacking the St. George Church in Hmoud, Karak, which killed nine people in October.

 

The three defendants were found guilty by the SSC of nine counts of complicity in committing terrorist acts resulting in death, in the October 23 deadly attack that also left dozens injured.

 

The court also declared them guilty of complicity in committing terrorist acts using weapons and ammunition, and complicity in possessing weapons and ammunition with the intent to use them in terrorist acts.

 

They were also convicted of conspiracy to commit terrorist acts using weapons, promoting the ideology of a terrorist group and committing acts likely to disrupt public order and endanger public safety and security.

 

One of the defendants was also convicted of providing funds with the intent of using the funds in terror-related activities.

 

The court also sentenced two men to six years in prison each after convicting them of possessing and selling weapons and ammunition to the three defendants.

 

The two defendants had no knowledge that the weapons and munitions they sold to the three other defendants were intended for the church attack, according to lawyer Amer Halaseh.

 

In commenting on Sunday’s verdict, Halaseh told The Jordan Times that justice was served today for the victims’ families.

 

“None of these families were seeking revenge. They only wanted justice for their loved ones,” Lawyer Amer Halaseh, who is representing the families of the victims, said.

 

Three of the five defendants were tried via video communication technology, while the remaining two appeared in court in person.

 

The court hearing was conducted under strict security measures, and only lawyers and relatives of the victims were allowed to attend.

 

Sunday’s verdict will automatically be reviewed by the Court of Cassation within the next 30 days.