Sharjah killer offers Dh1.3 million to escape death

A Kuwaiti university student convicted of killing his colleague with the help of a friend in Sharjah has offered KD100,000 (Dh1.3 million) to the victim’s relatives to escape execution, but they demanded a much higher ‘diya’ (blood money).

The Arabic language daily Emarat Al Youm said the student and his friend, who are both studying at Sharjah University, were found guilty of beating their colleague, also a Kuwaiti, to death at a café in the emirate following a heated argument.

Court hearings have been adjourned to September 29 to hear more witnesses and to allow the families of the convicts and victim to reach an out-of-court settlement, the paper said.

Defence lawyer said his client had offered KD100,000 ‘diya’ to the victim’s relatives so they will pardon the defendants, but they have not replied yet.

The paper quoted the convict’s family as saying the victim’s relatives are demanding a much bigger ‘diya’ in return for pardoning the defendants.

“We have offered to pay KD100,000 ‘diya’ and will not pay more than this sum,” the paper said, quoting a defendant family member.

The victim, 19, died just after he was rushed to hospital in Sharjah early last year following a fight with his two colleagues, who were immediately arrested after the crime at the café in Muwaileh area.

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