ABU DHABI // The family of an Ethiopian maid tortured to death by her employers has spared her killers the death sentence.
An official letter stating the relatives’ decision to accept blood money instead of a death sentence reached Abu Dhabi Criminal Court on Monday.
M A and his wife R Y, both from Palestine, tricked the maid into working for them for nothing, locked her in the house, and beat her several times, prosecutors said. The couple also barred the windows to prevent her escaping. Neighbours said they constantly heard horrific screams from the couple’s apartment.
Prosecution lawyers previously said that on the day of the death, a fight broke out between the wife and the maid. She assaulted the maid so severely with a cane that she died.
Then the husband poured a chemical on her body in an attempt to hide her identity. He wrapped the body in white fabric, placed it in a suitcase and put it in the boot of their car.
That night they drove to the Al Ajban desert in Abu Dhabi to dispose of the body. It was not clear from records why the fight broke out or when this happened.
Despite the body being badly burnt by the chemicals, officers were able to identify the victim, which led them to the couple.
Previously, at the Criminal Court, M A and R Y had blamed each other for the maid’s death.
R Y said on the day of the death the maid slipped on the soapy bathroom floor and could not get up. When her husband arrived he thought she was faking it so he started beating the maid’s legs with a gas pipe.
No one was on good terms with the couple because they caused many problems, a female neighbour said. A verdict will be announced on June 30.
hdajani@thenational.ae
