UAE: Man sentenced to death for shooting dead 3 family members

A young man has been sentenced to death for killing three of his family members in Al Ain over a dispute involving family inheritance.

On Wednesday, the Al Ain Criminal Court of First Instance found the man guilty of premeditated murder.

He was also convicted of possessing two firearms and ammunition without a license and possessing and consuming psychotropic substances.

His accomplice, the second defendant in the case, was sentenced to 15 years in jail for taking part in the murder and illegally possessing firearms. The court ordered the man to pay ‘diya’ or blood money to the victims’ families

Official court details stated that the first defendant intentionally killed the victims after preparing two firearms and loading them with ammunition.

He then went to their house, and as soon as he knew that they were inside, he entered the home and opened fire at them.

The bullets ripped through different parts of the victims' bodies, leading to their deaths. He was assisted in the attacks by the second defendant.

Investigations by police and the public prosecution revealed that the main defendant in the case is an ex-convict who had been having disputes with his family over inheritance, and he had earlier threatened them with death.

Before committing the crime, the man contacted the second defendant and asked him to come to his house, said the prosecutors.

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When the accomplice arrived, the convict got into his car with two firearms and drove to the family home.

When he reached there, he got out of the car with the gun in his hand and entered the hall calling out to the family members.

He opened fire as soon as he saw them.

After killing the victims, the two men left the house, taking the two weapons and the remaining ammunition.

The main defendant then informed the police about the incident and handed himself in after confessing to the murders.

During interrogation by the public prosecution and in court, he admitted to shooting and killing his family members.

The second defendant also admitted to being present at the scene during the murder and transporting the killer and the murder weapons in his car.

ismail@khaleejtimes.com

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