Motorist ordered to pay blood money in fatal road crash case

A Gulf national motorist has been ordered by the Criminal Court to pay QR200,000 blood money for causing the death of an Indian expatriate through rash driving, local Arabic daily Arrayah reported yesterday. The motorist was also fined QR10,000. The convicted man was driving his car opposite to Hamad General Hospital, and because of his neglect and lack of attention he collided with an Indian expatriate pedestrian who was crossing the road. The victim suffered serious injuries which resulted in his death. The forensic report proved that the victim suffered brain haemorrhage and multiple fractures. The convicted man denied rash driving and claimed that the victim caught him by surprise by crossing the road right in front of his car, but the court considered the incident as manslaughter for which the defendant must pay the blood money in accordance with the Law No 19 of 2008. The judgment stated that the payment of the blood money is a joint responsibility of the accused person and the insurance company.