UAE: DRIVER GETS DEATH SENTENCE FOR SMOTHERING ELDERLY DONOR

February 10, 2013: A Comorian driver who smothered an elderly female benefactor during a fierce theft attempt ten years ago was sentenced to death in Dubai.
The convict, AA, 50, smothered MMI, 59, an Arab woman in the Satwa area on the night of Sept.5, 2002 after learning that her house had become a renowned ‘alms hub.’
Senior Prosecutor Khaled Ameen Al Zarouni of Bur Dubai Prosecution had demanded the Dubai Criminal Court’s jury presided by Judge Mohamed Jamal Kaamil for death against AA.
“Guided by Satan,” prosecutors said, “AA resolved to kill MMI and steal cash. Without considering her age and weakness, he broke her ribs after vehemently stepping on her chest to pin her down.
“He covered her nose and mouth until she took the final breath before attempting opening the safe,” they narrated. “Since then he had been avoiding stepping in Dubai but left-hand thumb prints on the safe sealed evidence against him.”
The murder was reported by HA, 64, an Emirati pensioner who went to check on MMI after her anxious stepsister told HA that MMI was not responding to phone calls.
Egyptian forensic doctor YF, 57, said, “Apart from the many bruises and contusions on her body that included fractured ribs on her right side, there were bruises under her lips, jaws and nose.
“These indicated that the suspect violently obstructed her breath. She succumbed to suffocation, he explained, adding that the fractures in her right ribs resulted from the suspect’s attempt to pin her down.
Emirati Staff Sergeant MQ, 32 testified that upon questioning AA over his thumb prints, AA revealed that, ten years ago he learnt from friends that MMI was giving alms.
For three days, he watched the needy frequenting her house. He bought gloves, drank alcohol, made sure MMI was alone and entered. When she spotted him putting on the right-hand glove, he jumped at her.
“I tried lifting the whole safe after failing to find its keys but it was too heavy. I stared at the motionless woman then fled to Sharjah. I never returned to Dubai,” AA allegedly told MQ. An Emirati corporal gave a similar testimony. (Sources: gulftoday.ae, 11/02/2013)