Mentally-ill man suspected of murder turns himself in to police

ABU DHABI // A mentally disabled man suspected of murdering his cousin in an abandoned house has turned himself in after two years on the run.

Prosecutors say the Yemeni M M lured his relative to the property in 2010 and stabbed him to death over an honour issue before fleeing to his home country. He then called the dead man’s brothers to tell them where to find the body.

He was tried in his absence at the Criminal Court but the judges would not issue a ruling without him or his psychiatric file. The decision was appealed by prosecutors but the case remained deadlocked.

Court records showed the man had been admitted to a psychiatric hospital before the murder but left before his treatment was complete.

His case was due to be heard at the Criminal Court yesterday but the man, who is in police custody, did not appear and the hearing was adjourned.

hdajani@thenational.ae