He will be deported after serving his sentence.

A Dubai-based British editor on trial for murdering his wife was found guilty on Sunday of the charge and sentenced to ten years in jail.The Court of First Instance reached the verdict presided by judge Fahd Al Shamsi and ordered the journalist be deported after serving his sentence.

Earlier, defence lawyer Ali Al Shamsi requested the court to modify the charge from premeditated murder to assault leading to the victim’s death.

Al Shamsi presented his defence arguments stressing that his 61-year-old client did not have the intention to kill his wife, 62.

“There is no premeditation element in the case. The court listened earlier to three witnesses from the family who ascertained the couple had been leading a happy life.

“The forensic report also proved that there was no prior intention or any determination to kill the victim. My client assaulted his wife and it happened following a heated argument over some financial difficulties. He hit his wife but did not intend to kill her,” Al Shamsi told the judges.

The lawyer also argued that the couple had been having financial problems and the defendant had been under enormous pressure due to debts.

“He was also shocked as to how things turned to when he tried to cover up the crime. The three family witnesses recounted that travel tickets and hotel bookings had been made shortly before the incident which is a clear indication that life was normally going on in the family.”

Al Shamsi also presented the court with a waiver signed by the couple’s son. The waiver was duly attested by the Dubai Shariah Court and it clearly stated that he relinquished his right to pursue the case against his father. The lawyer pleaded for the court to take into consideration extenuating circumstances towards his client when sentencing him.

The case dates back to July 4, 2017, when the editor called the police to report that his wife was killed by thieves who broke into his villa in Umm Suqeim 1 while he was away.

However, the police found leads that suggested foul play. They confronted the husband with their findings and he eventually confessed to having hit his wife to death with a hammer following a heated argument, claiming it was not intentional.

The journalist had earlier denied in court a premeditated murder charge.



The verdict can be appealed within the legal deadline.



mary@khaleejtimes.com