The UAE Federal Supreme Court has overturned an appeals court decision that had upheld the death sentence of a man convicted of murdering a woman and attempting to kill another man, finding that his right to fair defense was not adequately protected.The case has now been sent back to the Court of Appeal for a fresh hearing before a different judicial panel.
The accused expressed his intention to kill
According to Khaleej Times, prosecutors charged the man with premeditated murder, alleging he bought a pair of sharp scissors, hid the weapon and waited until he was alone with the woman on a staircase leading to the roof of the residential building where they lived.He allegedly stabbed her multiple times with a knife, causing fatal injuries.
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Prosecutors also accused him of attempting to murder another man by repeatedly stabbing him.The second victim survived after receiving medical treatment. The third charge related to illicit relations with a dead woman, although the trial court later changed the legal classification of that crime.The Court of First Instance sentenced the accused to death by hanging for murder, life imprisonment for attempt to murder and one month’s jail for the third charge. It also ordered confiscation of the scissors, imposed court costs and directed that the accused be deported after completing his jail sentence. The appeals court later upheld the verdict in full.
Supreme Court cited the mistakes of the defense side
The accused then challenged the verdict before the Federal Supreme Court and argued that he did not intend to kill, he acted under provocation and he should undergo psychiatric evaluation to determine his mental state at the time of the incident. He also sought to reclassify the charges, claiming that the evidence did not establish the specific intent required for premeditated murder.The Supreme Court ruled that the appeals court had failed to investigate or adequately respond to these key defense arguments despite their potential impact on the outcome of the case.
Fresh hearing ordered
The top court reiterated that all death sentences in the UAE are subject to automatic review before being implemented and stressed that courts must not only hear defense arguments but also render reasoned decisions on concrete requests.Concluding that this legal standard was not met, the Federal Supreme Court vacated the appeal court’s decision and sent the case back to the appeal court for reconsideration before a different judicial bench. This decision does not amount to an acquittal and the case will now be heard again.