AMMAN, Jordan, May 15 (UPI) -- An Iraqi would-be bomber in a series of terrorist attacks that rocked Amman hotels last year pleaded not guilty at a Jordanian security court.
Sajida Richawi, who failed to detonate her explosive-packed belt last November 9, told the third hearing into the case Monday that she suffered from a psychological problem.
A request by Richawi's defense lawyer, Hussein Masri, to have his client examined by a psychiatric doctor was rejected.
Masri quoted Richawi as telling him during an encounter at the prison that she and her sister suffered serious psychological problems and their uncle suffered from schizophrenia.
The bombings of three luxury hotels in the capital were executed by three Iraqi suicide bombers; 60 people were killed and another 103 were injured.
The court listened to the testimonies of five witnesses, including a groom, Ashraf Akhras, who was celebrating his wedding at the Radisson SAS hotel when Richawi's husband detonated himself in the crowd, killing his parents and those of his bride.
It was also the scene where Sajida Richawi's detonating device failed, prompting her to flee before being arrested four days later.
Ashraf told the court that he was happy because justice will be implemented and asked the judges to impose the ultimate punishment, that of death by hanging.
Al-Qaida in Iraq, the ruthless terror branch led by Jordanian Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, claimed responsibility for the Amman hotel bombings.
Zarqawi and six others are being tried in absentia in the case; the Jordanian security court has already issued their death sentences.
