The Dubai Court of Appeal has upheld the life sentence of an Arab man found guilty of murdering his friend after a violent altercation inside his residence in the Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) area.
The ruling confirms the initial verdict issued by the Dubai Criminal Court, which also mandated the convict’s deportation once he completes his prison term.
The case dates back to October 2022, when a woman alerted authorities about a suspected homicide inside an apartment in the JBR neighbourhood. The woman, a friend of both the accused and the victim, had earlier visited the suspect at the hospital where he appeared distressed.
She told investigators that the suspect urged her to go to his residence to check on their mutual friend. Upon entering the apartment, she was shocked to discover the victim’s body lying motionless on the floor, wrapped in blood-soaked bedsheets. She immediately contacted the police to report the gruesome scene.
Responding officers found clear evidence of a violent confrontation inside the apartment. By that time, however, the suspect had left the hospital where he had been receiving treatment and was no longer at the residence, prompting authorities to initiate a manhunt.
Police questioned the suspect’s father, who revealed that his son’s behaviour had noticeably changed in recent months. He added that on the day of the incident, the victim had visited the accused at home and the two became embroiled in a heated argument.
According to the father, he left the house shortly after the quarrel but later received a disturbing phone call in which his son confessed to assaulting the victim. The accused admitted that the friend had died as a result and disclosed his intention to flee the country.
Investigators acted swiftly, tracing the suspect to a hotel in another emirate. He was allegedly preparing to leave the UAE with assistance from his brother, who helped arrange his attempt to escape.
Police arrested the man and referred him to Dubai Public Prosecution, which charged him with premeditated murder based on the evidence gathered from the crime scene and witness testimonies.
The Dubai Criminal Court subsequently found him guilty and handed down a life sentence. The verdict was later contested by the defence, but the Court of Appeal rejected the challenge, upholding the original ruling.
Authorities confirmed that the convict will be deported after serving his sentence, in accordance with UAE law governing serious criminal offences.
The case underscores the swift investigative response of Dubai Police and the UAE judiciary’s firm stance on crimes involving violence, ensuring justice for victims and maintaining public safety.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members