Destiny from the sky

That leaves me speechless

A driver was sentenced in absentia to three years in jail for knocking down a little boy and then driving over him. The 11-year-old youngster was pronounced dead soon after arrival at hospital.
And the Qatari motorist – who had a previous hit and run conviction – reportedly told investigators that the accident had been “a matter of destiny from the sky”.
The horrific crime happened on June 11, 2006, as the boy and his brother crossed a road in the Manaseer area in the early evening.
A court heard that the driver, Fahd al-Shemeri, was seen speeding towards them forcing the youngsters to run for their lives. However, the 11-year-old victim was too slow and unable to escape in time.
His brother told investigators that he knocked the boy down and “looked at him and after moments of thinking he drove over him to end any hope of survival and escaped from the scene”.
In a phone call to his father, the surviving boy also claimed that al-Shemeri had tried to hit him too because he was “a witness”, but when he failed he started to “zigzag” his car to stop the youngster taking down the details of his number plate. However, the boy managed to recall two of the digits and police were eventually able to make an arrest.
Al-Shemeri was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter. He was further fined QR5,000 for driving without a licence and the same again for driving recklessly.
The court also ordered QR150,000 blood money to be paid to the family of the 11-year-old victim. As the car was not insured it is likely that the driver will have to pay the compensation out of his own pocket.
After his arrest, al-Shemeri confessed to the crime. Investigators also discovered he had previous convictions for drugs and a hit and run accident.
He is currently being treated in a psychiatric clinic, although a report confirmed he was aware of his actions and could be held accountable.
According to legal sources, the public prosecution had originally attempted to charge him with premeditated murder because of suspected animosity between him and the victim’s father. However, when investigators failed to prove their case, the charge was changed to vehicular manslaughter.
The verdict is open for appeal.
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