ABU DHABI // A woman jailed for 13 years for sexually assaulting and beating her maid to death yesterday claimed she died by accident.
NS, an Emirati, told the Appeals Court she had employed the Indonesian maid SS, for a year and nine months. She said this proved she did not regularly beat her, as prosecutors had alleged.
She admitted arguing with the victim after telling her she was hiring a second maid. She said during this altercation the maid fell over by accident and died.
The Criminal Court found the woman guilty of beating the maid and jailed her for 10 years for torture, plus a further three years for sexually assaulting the maid by making her take off her clothes to engage in a sexual act.
EH, an Emirati policeman, was also jailed for 10 years after confessing to the Criminal Court he had joined in the beating. But he told the Appeals Court yesterday he had no part in the attack.
He said he visited the woman's house and when he arrived at her door he could hear the woman assaulting the maid. He said she was calling her a "dog" and a "donkey".
Defence lawyers for the woman and the policeman each blamed the other's client for the death.
The woman told her original trial she had psychological problems, but tests found her to be sane and responsible for her actions.
A verdict is due on November 12.
