A British man, serving a life sentence in Dubai for the murder of his girlfriend, met his estranged son after 11 years because of reconciliation attempts by officials in the emirate.
Mark Arnold, 54, was convicted of murdering his South African girlfriend, Kerry Winter, in 2008 after which his son refused to talk to him.
Lt Col Jamila Al Zaabi, director of the Dubai Women’s Prison, contacted Arnold’s son, now 28, and convinced him to come and meet his father.
The Punitive and Correctional Establishments liaised with the son and arranged the meeting.
"The surprise visit was arranged for the inmate for his part in writing Tomorrow I will Fly, a collection of essays and stories by the inmates of Dubai prison," Lt Col Al Zaabi said.
Tomorrow I will Fly, edited by Clare Mackintosh and Annabel Kantaria, is a collection of stories on inmates in Dubai and was published by the Emirates Literature Foundation.
“The son had never visited his father for the past years and just few months ago he got married, and had not even informed his father,” said Maj Mohammed Al Obaidli, director of education and training at the prison.
"Dubai Police is keen to spread happiness among inmates as a part of its humanitarian initiatives,” said Brig Ali Mohammed Al Shamali, director of punitive and correctional establishments at Dubai Police.
Arnold was convicted for murder two and a half years after Winter went missing. Her body was never found.
The Dubai Court of Appeals ruled in December 2011 that Arnold would serve life in prison, or 25 years. The court extended a 15-year sentence imposed by the Criminal Court of First Instance earlier that year.
