Murder, theft, arson, and adultery, in that order, are the crimes that typically make it into the court system. For a petty thievery, sleeping with a prostitute, or carving your name into the temple wall, you’ll receive a few months in prison; for more serious crimes, such as a knifing or stealing a noble’s purse, a limb might be amputated; for killing a public official, robbing a tax collector, or horse thievery, you can expect to hang or be beheaded.
Meron courts are simple. Like the zal a debedo, the court of each city consists of fifteen men—five religious officials (occasionally a woman is included in this category), five men appointed by the city governance, and five elected by all landowning men within the city limits. These hear the testimonies of witnesses and determine how severe the crime is.
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