The Lebanese Military Court of Cassation, headed by Judge Tani Latouf, decided to arrest colonel Nidal Daou for the killing of Alaa Abou Fakher who was fatally shot dead on the 27th day of the Lebanese Revolution in Khaldeh.
Daou had previously been questioned, after Abou Fakher was killed, but was not charged for involvement in the case and was released after providing proof of residency.
Instead, 1st Adjutant Charbel Ajeil was charged for the murder as he was the one driving the vehicle.
However, that decision of the release was appealed by the Public Prosecution and his case was referred to the Military Court of Cassation. Daou will now be questioned again for his involvement in the crime.
The decision of the Military Court of Cassation was made as it considered the decision to appeal against the defendant’s office is essential for civil peace.
The court stated that Doau’s incident created a state of confusion and anarchy among protesters and that the arrest of Ajeil was not enough.
The investigation was hence expanded for the court body to be able to form a conviction to leave or arrest the colonel. This decision was made after the Military Court of Presocution released Daou over “insufficient evidence.”
According to judicial sources, the Military Court is dealing with Alaa Abou Fakher’s case in proportion to the decision required.
The court listened to testimonies from witnesses and decided to annul the decision of the military investigator and to issue an arrest warrant for the colonel.
Daou, who is an officer in the Army’s Mount Lebanon Intelligence branch has been now arrested for the murder of Alaa Abu Fakhr in front of Alaa’s wife and young son.
Sources confirmed that, during the incident that caused Alaa’s death, the situation escalated into a verbal argument between Abou Fakher and Daou. A physical altercation ensued, in which four shots were fired into the air in an attempt to disperse the protesters.
The Lebanese Army released a statement the night Abou Fakher was killed, saying that one of the soldiers fired to disperse protesters as an Army vehicle passed by and that one person had been hit by a bullet.
