Death sentence for murder and spending spree upheld

DUBAI // A man who bludgeoned his friend to death, then went on a spending spree with his credit card, saw his death sentence upheld by the Dubai Court of Cassation this morning.

AH, 52, from Egypt, was found guilty of premeditated murder and sentenced to die by the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance on June 16, 2010.

The Court of First Instance was told AH visited the victim at his flat in Al Baraha in March and got into an argument that ended with him hitting his friend on the head with a bat.

AH's defence was that he went to the flat to chat, but that the conversation turned ugly when the victim started insulting him and his family. He said the man slapped him, which further enraged him. He said he then beat the man and fled.

AH was also convicted of stealing the victim's car, mobile phone and wallet. His Filipina girlfriend, who was not identified, told prosecutors he took her out to dinner and a movie the day after the incident.

AH bought jewellery worth Dh7,000 for her with the victim's credit card the same day. Security camera footage presented to the court showed him buying the items, apparently in an upbeat mood.

The victim's brother went to his flat after being unable to reach him for three days and found the body in a pool of blood. AH was arrested six days after the attack.

salamir@thenational.ae