TAIF, 1 November 2007 — Police have identified the killer of Muhammad Al-Harithy, a young man in his 20s whose decapitated head was found in a black plastic bag at a garbage dump outside Taif two days ago, Al-Jazirah newspaper reported yesterday.

Two African workers made the grim discovery while rummaging through garbage. On stumbling across the head, the two men informed a site supervisor, who telephoned the police. Police and forensic experts arrived at the location to gather evidence and take photographs. The site was searched for further remains of the body and efforts were made to identify the head.

Police finally learned that the killer was Saleh Al-Harithy, Muhammad’s mentally ill uncle. “We didn’t suspect my brother until he confessed and told us where the body was. It had been hidden in a cave on Al-Shefa Road,” said Saeed Al-Harithy, Muhammad’s father.

Saeed added that his brother, Saleh, was mentally ill and had been sent to a psychiatric hospital.

“He was working as a preacher and would read Rokya (certain prayers recited by religious leaders to free possessed people from jinns) in one of the mosques. He was falsely accused of something, while practicing Rokya on a young man. However, he was found innocent. But the experience made him leave the job and remain at home,” said Saeed, adding that Saleh then became depressed.

“He applied for governmental aid at the Ministry of Social Affairs, which gave him SR700. He refused the money and decided to stay at home. Saleh went to Syria for treatment and came back last Friday, the day he committed his crime. He brought presents and souvenirs for all his nephews and brought a bed sheet and a ring for Muhammad,” said Saeed.

“Muhammad, a high school graduate, was also suffering depression because he couldn’t find a job. He had torn his graduation certificate into pieces saying that it was of no use, as he couldn’t find a job,” said Saeed.

Fahed Al-Harithy, Muhammad’s brother said, “Muhammad came home on the day he was killed after Isha prayer. When he was told that Uncle Saleh had returned from Syria, he went to his room to meet him and sit with him.”

He added, “In the morning I was surprised when I didn’t see Muhammad in bed. I went to college and in the evening I called Uncle Saleh, who advised me to ask about him at the police station.”

The next day, Fahed went with his uncle to the police station to report Muhammad missing. “It was distressing when they showed us a picture of Muhammad’s head found in the garbage,” said Fahed.

Maj. Turkey Al-Shary, police spokesman at the Al-Sharkiya police station, said, “Saleh wasn’t a suspect until he confessed to his family that he killed Muhammad. At the moment we can’t disclose more information because the case is still under investigation.”