Dubai - The Jordanian had sexually assaulted and killed 8-year-old Obaida while heavily intoxicated.
Published: Sun 22 Jan 2017, 10:53 AM
Updated: Mon 23 Jan 2017, 8:04 AM
The Dubai Court of Appeals on Sunday upheld the death sentence of Jordanian Nidal Eissa Abdullah, the killer of eight-year-old Obaida. Abdullah was sentenced to death in August by the Dubai Court of First Instance, which convicted him of sexually assaulting and killing the child.
Abdullah, 48, showed up in court escorted by policemen as the presiding judge was reading out the verdicts.
He showed no expression or reaction when he was told about the ruling by one guard.
The victim's mother was present in the courtroom along with other family members for some time attending the whole session and when the verdict was pronounced they welcomed it with sighs of relief.
Tearfully, the child's parents were comforted outside the courtroom with hugs.
Earlier, Dubai Attorney -General stressed he would not rest until the convicted killer of Obaida is executed.
"The Child Obaida's blood is our responsibility. The public prosecution will not accept less than the death penalty," the Attorney-General Eissam Issa Al Humaidan said.
Earlier, the appellate court listened to the closing arguments of the defence lawyer Ali Musabeh.
Musabeh pleaded for the court to exert leniency towards Abdullah, sentenced to death for killing Obaida (also from Jordan), saying he visited him 4 times in prison and saw how regretful he was and trying to ready himself for the court verdict.
During his visitations, the lawyer was told by his client that he had been mistreated by his father and step-mother and that he became alcoholic over the years. Musabeh learned from his client that he showed remorse for what he did and was willing to accept any verdict against him.
Musabeh argued in court the committee of psychiatrists that mentally evaluated his client showed in their report that he was anti-social. But the report failed to show whether his condition was treatable or not.
The report, which was earlier presented to the court, revealed Abdullah, was mentally stable and sane with an anti-social character and suffered from alcohol abuse.
However, even with his alcoholism problem, the convict could be still held responsible for his behavior and actions, according to the report.
Read: Obaida's killer regrets what he did: Lawyer
Abdullah was sentenced to death in August by the Dubai Court of First Instance which convicted him of sexually assaulting and killing the child.
Abdullah earlier admitted to charges of murder and consuming of alcohol.
He denied, however, charges of sexually assaulting the victim and kidnapping him from outside his parents' house in Sharjah.
The case dates back to May 20 when the child was reported missing from outside his parents' house and his body was found two days later on the side of a roadin Al Warqa.
Sunday's ruling is now subject to be challenged at the Court of Cassation by the accused within 30 days.
The death penalty that comes out of the Dubai top court is final and irrevocable. The convict remains in prison until the execution day as per an order by the public prosecution. The verdict has to be approved by Dubai Ruler before it can be executed.
mary@khaleejtimes.com
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