Woman given early release after 15 years in Dubai prison

JP, who worked as a prostitute, was originally sentenced to death in 1997 for her role in a premeditated murder, but appealed against the sentence and had it reduced to life in prison, which is normally 25 years.

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DUBAI // A woman who has served 15 years of a life sentence for premeditated murder has won an appeal to be released early.

"The Dubai Criminal Court is content with the time served in jail and orders her deportation," the court announced today.

JP, 42, a Ukrainian who worked as a prostitute, was originally sentenced to death in 1997 for her role in a premeditated murder, but appealed against the sentence and had it reduced to life in prison, which is normally 25 years.

She was convicted of assisting a man by distracting the female victim, who was her friend, before he clubbed her to death with a bar so they could rob her flat.

The two fled the country, but police lured her back and she was arrested at the airport.

Prosecution said she had confessed to planning the crime with the man, who was never caught, and said they bought the metal bar together.