UAE motorist kills woman, challenges 9-year-jail term

He also caused injuries to the father and daughter

A young motorist has appealed against his nine-year-jail sentence after he was convicted of causing death of a woman and injuries to her husband and child when he accidentally rammed their car while trying to escape police.
The Emirati man in his 20s had just left Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi and was heading to his home when he was stopped by cops after noticing that he was driving a vehicle whose registration license had expired, official court documents stated. After realising that the police could nail him for the offence, the man sped away.
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Prosecutors said the youngster overtook the vehicles that were in front of him from the hard shoulder and also jumped several red traffic lights while running away from the police patrol car that was chasing him. Police said the Emirati was driving recklessly and that on a certain occasion, he reversed his car in the middle of the road which posed danger to the lives of other road-users.
The chase for the motorist lasted more than an hour, according to officers. And while still on the run and after jumping a traffic light, the driver accidentally smashed another car that was being occupied by a couple and their small daughter.
The woman died on the spot while her husband and daughter sustained severe injuries and were taken to hospital. Prosecutors had charged the Emirati driver with 16 traffic offenses, including causing the death of the woman and injuries to two other persons in the accident.
The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court of First Instance had earlier handed him nine years in jail after he was found guilty of the offenses. The man was also fined Dh100,000 and ordered to pay blood money to the woman's family. He was also to be given 80 lashes for drinking alcohol.
The Emirati, however, challenged the sentences in the Appeal Court stressing that they were so tough, considering the fact that he didn't intend to cause the accident that killed the woman.
He told the court that police had tried to stop him and also chased him without a genuine reason and this resulted in the tragedy. The Emirati also pledged to the court to be lenient with him and hand him a lighter sentence.
The trial was adjourned until August 22.
 ismail@khaleejtimes.com
 

• Abu Dhabi