Accused admits to Obaida's murder and sexual assault charges

Eight-year-old Obaida who was strangled to death

A man admitted in the Court of First Instance on Monday of having sexually assaulted and strangled to death, eight-year-old Obaida.

The Jordanian accused, 48, confessed before the presiding judge, Orfan Attieh, that he strangled Obaida, also Jordanian, to death after sexually assaulting him in Al Mamzar area.

He has been referred to court on charges including kidnap, premeditated murder, physical assault, making criminal threats, consuming alcohol without a licence and driving under its influence.

Answering a question by the judge whether he sexually assaulted the victim in his car, the defendant said: "Yes. But I can't remember what happened. I was under the influence of alcohol." He claimed he was in 'coma' as he was unconscious when he committed the crime. The defendant said he drank five bottles of vodka prior to the crime.

He admitted strangling the victim with his hands and then tightening a piece of cloth around his neck for around five minutes until the boy became motionless.

According to prosecution records, the defendant kidnapped the boy from outside his home in Sharjah. He denied, however, in court of kidnapping the victim claiming he went with him willingly.

The public prosecution is pushing for death penalty.

The accused is believed to have lured the boy inside his car after fooling him that he would gift him a scooter. He strangled him out of fear he would tell his parents and dumped the body later under a tree on the Academic City Road.

Obaida was last seen on May 20 when he was outside his father's car workshop. He was then reported missing and his body was found two days later.

The family's lawyer submitted to the court documents saying he would be representing the victim's parents in a civil lawsuit.

The court adjourned the hearing to June 27 for a defence lawyer to be appointed.

mary@khaleejtimes.com