Emirati mother's jail term increased for killing baby

Dubai - The 33-year-old mother had been abusing the child physically since his birth until his death in July 2016

An Emirati mother, accused of stepping on her 14-month-old baby's stomach causing him fatal injuries, had her sentence increased from three to seven years in jail.
She pleaded not guilty earlier to a murder charge for which she was sentenced to three years in jail by the Court of First Instance in May.
According to the public prosecution records, the 33-year-old mother had been abusing the child physically since his birth until his death in July 2016.
"No I did not kill him, your honour. I was taking him for treatment at hospitals," the accused earlier claimed in court. "I was taking good care of him as my other children and siblings."
One of the defendant's maids testified that she had witnessed how the mother would forcibly make her child eat and even throw him in the bathroom to shower him. "I noticed once she was pressing on his stomach but she stopped when she saw me."
The Indonesian maid said that the defendant used to be violent with her little baby. "Once I heard him crying and when I was called I could see blood on his clothes on the floor."
The baby was rushed to a hospital on July 16 last year but he died shortly later.
The incident was reported to Al Qusais police station.
"The baby was brought several times to hospital. Once he suffered fractures in his skull and thigh bone and another time, he was admitted with brain haemorrhage," a doctor, who treated the victim, said.
The mother's sister said the defendant would tie the baby's legs with a headscarf. She claimed she spotted bruises on the baby's face and neck, which were covered by some cream.
According to the forensic report, the cause of death was severe abdomen internal bleeding.
The woman can still challenge the appellate court ruling at the Court of Cassation within 30 days.
mary@khaleejtimes.com