A court here has upheld its earlier verdict in the case of the marriage of underage girl to an elderly man. The earlier verdict by Judge Habib Abdullah Al-Habib stipulated that the girl must reach the age of puberty before determining whether she would continue her marriage solemnized in June 2007. The judge tried to convince the girl's husband to nullify the marriage contract in lieu of returning the dowry he paid, but he refused. Sources said if the elderly husband continues to refuse and the judge sticks to his verdict, the Court of Cassation will hand over the case to another judge. The Court of Cassation had rejected the previous verdict and demanded that the case be reconsidered. But in Saturday's hearing the judge stuck to his earlier verdict, court sources told Okaz/Saudi Gazette Reporters were barred from attending the court proceedings.
