DEFENCE lawyers claimed a BDF officer, who was brutally attacked with weapons during the unrest, lied in court.

Their last-ditch bid to have their clients exonerated was made at the Supreme Criminal Appeals Court during the case of 16 Bahrainis, who allegedly stabbed the officer with swords, daggers and knives in the head and neck and hit him with wooden sticks in Hamad Town at Roundabout 22.

The victim had earlier told judges he was at the BDF Hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for two weeks, which the defence claims was untrue.

Attorney Hussain Aqeel submitted documents to the court from the hospital, which showed the victim had not been admitted to the ICU for two weeks.

"The victim took to the stand under oath and lied, when he said he spent two weeks in the ICU," he said.

"How can you trust a person's testimony if he lied under oath?"

The men were convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to 15 years each in jail by the National Safety Court in December.

According to court documents, the officer was heading to work when he got stuck in traffic at the roundabout due to a demonstration.

He then took off his military hat and shirt when he drove past the protesters.

However, Mr Aqeel claimed the officer had contradictory statements when he was giving his testimonies to prosecutors.

"He first said he removed his military uniform before he saw anti-government protesters, but in another statement he said it was after he saw them," he argued.

"I request the court to acquit my clients because under the law, if there is a shadow of doubt in the alleged crime, then the benefit of the doubt should be given to the defendants and they should be acquitted."

Mr Aqeel also claimed two of his clients were not present in the area at the time of the attack. "One was at a mosque and one was at home," he said.

The nine-member defence team earlier requested the court to summon an independent panel of medical examiners, saying the men were mistreated in custody, which judges accepted. It came after the defendants claimed they signed confession papers under duress. According to court documents, the victim had identified the 16 defendants from a line-up at the police station. The court adjourned the case until Wednesday for the defence to submit its final arguments. noorz@gdn.com.bh