DUBAI // The drink driver who killed a British tourist then tried to flee the country has had his sentence increased from two to four months.
B T, 31, from Brazil, denied responsibility for the death of Gavin Duffy when he appeared at the Dubai Court of Appeal. However, he confessed to driving while under the influence of alcohol.
He was convicted on January 26 by the Dubai Traffic Court of driving under the influence of alcohol, causing a person's death and fleeing the scene of an accident. He was sentenced to two months in prison, ordered to pay Dh150,000 blood money and had his driving licence suspended for six months.
Prosecutors thought his sentence was too lenient and appealed for a longer jail term.
The Court of Appeal also increased the suspension of B T’s driving licence to 12 months, but upheld the Dh150,000 blood-money settlement.
Mr Duffy, 29, had only been on holiday in Dubai for two days when he was killed as he crossed Al Sufouh Road at 2am on November 23 last year.
A passer-by noted down B T’s car licence plate number and informed the police. He was arrested in the duty-free area of Dubai airport before he could board a 4.20am flight to Beirut.
salamir@thenational.ae
