2.53 AM Friday, 29 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:56 06:10 12:26 15:53 18:37 19:52
29 March 2024

Psychiatric evaluation of 4-year-old's killer sought

Psychiatric evaluation of 4-year-old's killer sought. (EB FILE)

Published
By Mohammed Elsidafy

The prosecutor in the case of an Emirati accused of murdering a four-year-old boy in a mosque during Eid Al Adha, yesterday called for death penalty if the defendant was found guilty.

Yousef Foulath, representing Dubai Public Prosecution, cited verses from the Holy Quran that said killers should be executed.

Defendant, RO, 30, looked pale and distracted when he appeared at Dubai Criminal Court.

Defence lawyer Mohammed Al Saadi called for the transfer of his client to a psychiatric unit so his mental condition at the time of the murder could be established and his degree of responsibility for his actions could be assessed.

He said the defendant did not have a normal upbringing as his mother had died while he was young and his father has married another woman who treated the defendant cruelly. This had led to him becoming addicted to alcohol from a young age while keeping bad company.

Al Saadi said the extreme nature of the crime in terms of the location, the timing and the fact that the victim was so young, together with the fact that the accused had smiled blankly while being quizzed by police, raised doubts about his mental powers.

The court agreed to refer RO to a psychiatrist – but only on condition that the report was completed in time for the next hearing.

At an earlier session the court heard the testimony of a number of prosecution witnesses including the victim's father, who wept as he gave evidence and called for the killer to be executed.

The trial has been adjourned until January 10.


Court cases

- A 22-year-old Asian accused of molesting a 26-year-old American tourist in a public park admitted his guilt at the Dubai Criminal Court yesterday.

The accused, MA, who was in custody pending trial, was produced in court yesterday. The case was adjourned until January 20. 

- Two Arab nationals accused of forging account statements to obtain a loan of Dh200,000 each from Emirates Bank denied their charges yesterday. The lawyer of HJ, 40, and AH, 25, asked for time to look into the case. The case was adjourned until January 20.

 

Keep up with the latest business news from the region with the Emirates Business 24|7 daily newsletter. To subscribe to the newsletter, please click here.