Murdered boy's father testifies

The father of the boy murdered in a mosque during Eid al Adha wept in court today as he relived the moment when he found out about his four-year-old son's tragic fate. Moosa Mukhtiar Ahmed was sexually assaulted and murdered on the first day of the holiday at a mosque in the Al Qusais 3 neighbourhood. His father, Mukhtiar Ahmed, was among six prosecution witnesses giving evidence at the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance today at the trial of RR, a 30-year-old Emirati accused of the crime. A packed courtroom of more than 100 people listened intently to Mr Ahmed's account. He said he had been on his way to the Bin Tahnoon mosque as part of his Eid celebrations when he saw police, an ambulance and a crowd of people gathered outside. "People said that there a was a dead child in the mosque, so I got worried and contacted my family," a tearful Mr Ahmed told the court. "I was told Moosa was not accounted for so I asked the police for an ID. We only discovered [what had happened] after we went to Rashid Hospital". Presiding Judge Fahmy Mounir Fahmy then asked Mr Ahmed if he had any requests. He replied by calling for capital punishment to be implemented in this case. Also giving testimony today were Moosa's uncle, investigating officers in the case and the man who discovered the boy's body. RR has pleaded guilty to the homosexual assault and premeditated murder of Moosa Ahmed, and to drinking alcohol the night before the boy was killed and also on the day in question. In an earlier statement, RR allegedly said that on the morning of the crime he had visited the mosque to recite the Eid prayer. It is alleged that, afterwards, he came across Moosa outside and enticed the boy to follow him to the toilet at the mosque, where he killed him. At a hearing last week, RR's court-appointed lawyer pulled out of the case, branding him an "embarrassment to humanity" The court will reconvene on Sunday to hear the case for the defence. amustafa@thenational.ae