Dubai editor did not intend to kill wife: Lawyer

Dubai - The journalist earlier denied in court a premeditated murder charge.

The defence lawyer of a Dubai-based British editor - who is on trial for murdering his wife - has requested a court to modify the charge against him from premeditated murder to assault leading to the victim's death.
Ali Al Shamsi presented his defence arguments in the Court of First Instance, stressing that his 61-year-old client did not have the intention to kill his wife, 62.
"There is no premeditation element in the case. The court listened earlier to three witnesses from the family who ascertained the couple had been leading a happy life.
"The forensic report also proved that there was no prior intention or any determination to kill the victim. My client assaulted his wife and it happened following a heated argument over some financial difficulties. He hit his wife, but did not intend to kill her," Al Shamsi told the judges.
The lawyer also argued that the couple had been having financial problems and he had been under enormous pressure due to debts. "He was also shocked as to how things turned out when he tried to cover up the crime. The three family witnesses recounted that travel tickets and hotel bookings had been made shortly before the incident, which is a clear indication that life was going on normally in the family."
Al Shamsi presented a waiver in court signed by the couple's son. The waiver was attested by the Dubai Shariah Court and stated that he relinquished his right to pursue the case against his father. 
The defendant's son and his two siblings, who flew earlier to Dubai from the UK especially to give testimonies as defence witnesses, did not attend the hearing on Wednesday.
A source close to the case told Khaleej Times that the defendant's 90-year-old father-in-law was not willing to pardon him. "He would not cede his rights off the case," the source revealed.
The case dates back to July 4, 2017, when the editor called the police to report that his wife was killed by thieves who broke into his villa in Umm Suqeim 1 while he was away.
However, the police found leads that suggested foul play. They confronted the husband with their findings and he eventually confessed to having assaulted his wife to death with a hammer following a heated argument, claiming it was not intentional.
The journalist earlier denied in court a premeditated murder charge.
As per the Federal Penal Code, the murder charge, if modified by the court, could bear a penalty of five to seven years in jail. The presiding judge may also order the defendant to pay Dh100,000 in blood money.
The court is expected to pronounce a verdict on March 25.
mary@khaleejtimes.com