Manama: A Bahraini court on Monday sentenced 14 defendants to life in prison on charges of killing a Pakistani man in March.

The National Safety Court of First Instance said that the defendants attacked Abdul Malik Ghulam Rasool as he left his home in Manama using steels rods and assaulted another Pakistani.

The court acquitted a 15th suspect in the case.

Members of the Pakistani community in Manama were reportedly targeted during the security unrest that hit the country in February and March.

In another case, the court gave 15 defendants prison terms of 15 years for their alleged role in an attempt to kill a military serviceman and in damaging facilities and equipment at the University of Bahrain.

The court freed the 16th suspect.

In the third case to be reviewed by the lower court, six defendants were sentenced to 15 years on charges of attempting to kill people at the University of Bahrain by setting fire to a building in which they were gathered.

A seventh suspect was given 18 years in prison after his sentences were accumulated.

Under Bahrain's laws, the defendants have the right to appeal the sentences.