Should dad be jailed for running over son?

Dubai’s Traffic Public Prosecution (TPP) has asked the Traffic Court of Misdemeanours on Sunday to deal with an Australian father, charged with accidentally running over his 18-month-old son while reversing his car, leniently, and issue a suspended sentence.

The accident happened around 7.30am when the father, according to prosecution records, walked out of his house in Dubai's Umm Suqeim area, without closing the door properly and the toddler followed him out and stood behind his car.

The father reversed without knowing that his son was behind the vehicle, and ran over the boy, injuring him. The toddler succumbed to his critical injuries at Rashid Hospital.

The father pleaded guilty and asked the court for mercy. His lawyer argued that his client had no criminal intention and asked the judge to consider the circumstances around the case.

"When children fall victims to parents' mistakes, the law must be applied with a humane touch," Salah Bu Farousha, Chief Traffic Prosecutor, was quoted as saying in the local press, while arguing for a compassionate and sympathetic view of the case.

The Australian is reported to be in a state of emotional shock and Bu Farousha said the he was allowed on compassionate grounds to travel to his country for his son's burial.

"We also asked the father to write his own report about the accident. Dubai Police's traffic committee confirmed the father's responsibility.

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