Galgaduud court hands down death sentence in Guricel businessman killing
A regional military court in central Somalia sentenced a 20-year-old man to death on Wednesday for the fatal shooting of a well-known businessman in the town of Guricel two days earlier, court officials said. The Galgaduud regional military court found Abdifitaah Ali Hassan Diiriye guilty in the killing of 37-year-old entrepreneur Deeq Abdi Jama. The verdict was announced by the court’s chairman, Lawyer Hassan Abdullahi Ali.
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- The case centers on the July killing in Guricel (also spelled Guriceel), a commercial hub in Galgaduud.
- Defendant: Abdifitaah Ali Hassan Diiriye, 20; Victim: Deeq Abdi Jama, 37, a respected local businessman.
- The court said prosecutors presented sufficient evidence to prove Diiriye carried out the shooting.
Details of the verdict and evidence
Court Chairman Hassan Abdullahi Ali said the prosecution had presented enough evidence to establish that Diiriye was responsible for the fatal shooting. The ruling, delivered in Galgaduud’s regional military court, underscores the authorities’ insistence on swift accountability in a case that alarmed residents and business owners.
- Officials said the evidence linking Diiriye to the crime met the court’s threshold for conviction.
- The decision followed proceedings held in Galgaduud, with the verdict announced Wednesday.
- Guilty verdict carries a death sentence under the court’s ruling.
Official statement
“The Galgaduud Regional Court found the defendant, Abdifitaah Ali Hassan Diiriye, son of Hawo Abdi Elmi, 20 years old, born in Dhusamareb and residing in Guriceel, to be the perpetrator of the crime of killing Deeq Abdi Jama,” Chairman Hassan Abdullahi Ali said.
Community reaction in Guricel
Residents of Guricel widely welcomed the court’s decision, describing the death sentence as both a source of renewed hope and a deterrent to what they called a rising trend of senseless killings. Community members said the ruling sends a clear message that violence will be punished swiftly and severely.
- Locals praised the verdict as an overdue warning to those fueling insecurity in the town.
- Residents said the decision reflects public demand for firm action against gun violence.
- Business owners expressed relief after the killing rattled the local commercial community.
Profiles: the victim and the defendant
Friends and neighbors remembered Deeq Abdi Jama as a respected young businessman who ran a private enterprise in Guricel and maintained strong ties within the community. The defendant, identified as Abdifitaah Ali Hassan Diiriye, is 20 years old, originally from Dhusamareb and residing in Guricel, according to the court. Authorities said the killing occurred two days before the verdict was handed down.
- Victim: Deeq Abdi Jama, 37, known locally for his entrepreneurship and community standing.
- Defendant: Abdifitaah Ali Hassan Diiriye, 20; born in Dhusamareb, living in Guricel at the time of the incident.
- Timeline: Shooting occurred two days prior to Wednesday’s sentencing, officials said.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
