Story By: Alex Cope, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News 

The husband of one of the Arab world’s most successful pop stars Nancy Ajram has been charged with murder after allegedly shooting a man who had broken into their home dead.

Ajram’s husband Fadi Al Hashem has reportedly been charged with murder after allegedly shooting the home invader in the Keserwan District in the Mount Lebanon Governorate, Lebanon on 5th January.

Reports state Syrian national Mohammad Al Mousa, 30, was reportedly trying to rob the couple’s home and had reached the upstairs bedroom.

Al Mousa’s wife, who was not named in reports, reportedly said her husband had taken their young son’s toy gun with him on the day of the incident.

Hashem allegedly opened fire on the intruder firing 17 bullets and killing him. The make and model of the firearm are currently unknown.

Hashem has reportedly said that he fired the bullets in self-defence as he was protecting his family. He has reportedly been charged under Article 547 of the Lebanese Criminal Code, which stipulates a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison with hard labour for “murder with intent”.

However, Hashem is reportedly unlikely to be sentenced for murder as Article 229 of the same criminal code says perpetrators will not be punished for “defending himself, others or his property from imminent, grave danger”.

Reports state the case has been referred to Mount Lebanon First Investigative Judge Nicolas Mansour. It is unclear if a trial date has been set.

Ajram is one of the most successful singers in the Arab world having sold over 30 million records worldwide.

It is unclear if Hashem has been detained.

The ViralTab page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.