Suspect in killing of beheaded woman melancholic: Philippine consul

Dubai - No date has been set for Glen's court hearing but he had been arraigned and a case number has been filed.

Melancholic: This was the mood of Glen, the Filipino expat accused in the grisly murder of his aunt, according to Philippine consul-general Paul Raymund Cortes when he visited the suspect at the Rashidiya Police Station on Monday. 

"I spoke to him, to his family back home and to Philippine officials at the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) in Manila," Cortes told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday. "Glen wanted to be assured that the Philippine government will provide him with legal assistance and we are, of course, definitely extending it to him." 
According to Cortes, the consulate has assigned an Arabic lawyer to Glen, who was arrested by the Dubai Police, after months of thorough investigation, on September 20 for the death of Filipina household worker, Normita, whose headless body was found in Al Warqa in June. 
Normita was the aunt of Glen, whose father and Normita were siblings. In an earlier interview by Khaleej Times, Glen's younger brother, who is based in the US, said it was Glen who helped Normita to come to the UAE and find work. 
Read: Beheaded woman's husband wants to come to Dubai
Based on police reports, the suspect confessed he was 'inspired' by watching zombie movies for doing the dastardly act of cutting the head and limbs of the victim before burning and burying them in a desert are in Ajman. 
"When I spoke to the family of Glen they did not believe that he had done it," Cortes said. "They found it improbable that a person as gentle as he could do it. As far as they are concerned they maintained his innocence." 
"But then again, it will be now up to the prosecution and the court to decide whether or not he is guilty," underlined Cortes. "What we want to avoid is trial by publicity." 
When asked about the physical condition of Glen, Cortes said: "He is healthy. I don't know how to read demeanor or mental state but he is in good shape." 
No date has been set for Glen's court hearing but he had been arraigned and a case number has been filed, according to the Philippine envoy who emphasized that justice does not discriminate. 

"We are assisting both the (immediate) families of the victim and the accused. It is in our mandate that we do not discriminate We're extending assistance because they are Filipinos. Our job is to assist both parties and not to decide whether a person is guilty or not," the Philippine diplomat maintained. 
Meanwhile, officials in Manila have also made arrangements for Normita's husband, Salvio, to come to Dubai, according to Cortes. "The DFA will be assisting him with his visa, plane ticket and accommodation in Dubai. Moreover, all legal documents pertinent to the case have been sent to Manila last week." 
In a separate interview, Raf, brother of Glen's wife, said: "I'm satisfied with the assistance being given by the authorities, including the free counseling for my sister and nephew (son of Glen), who is turning seven this October." 
"I believe our consul-general is on the side of the truth and justice and I also believe that he is capable to make any decisions for the sake of both parties - Glen and the victim,"  Raf, who is based in Manila, told Khaleej Times.
angel@khaleejtimes.com

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