ABU DHABI // A judge has asked the heirs of a murdered man to spare his killer a death sentence, saying it was better to receive a higher status and rewards in the hereafter.
Four Emirati brothers were found guilty of murdering two Omanis in May 2012 to avenge their brother, who was allegedly killed in August 2009 by a brother of the Omanis.
One of the Emiratis was cleared, and the three others were sentenced to death.
The Court of Appeal upheld the death penalty for one of the brothers but sentenced another to 10 years in jail.
The third was cleared of all charges.
The case was then referred to the Court of Cassation, and then returned to the appeals court to be heard by a new panel of judges.
The parents and wife of one of the Omanis were summoned to give their decision on the fate of the Emirati defendants. Chief Justice Dr Khairi Al Kabbash told the heirs that judges are required by Sharia to give the victims the option to pardon a defendant, and to explain the benefits and rewards of such an action.
The victim’s lawyer told the court that the defendants’ family did not even attempt to reconcile with them, as his clients did during the original case.
“Their noses continue to be raised up in the air,” the lawyer said.
The chief justice said the actions of the defendants were irrelevant, because the winner is the one who seeks forgiveness first.
The mother of the victim told the court she wants the death sentence for all four brothers, and that the acquittals for two of them should be cancelled.
His father made the same request.
The judge set May 13 as the next court date.
hdajani@thenational.ae
