Al Ain woman stabbed to death, suspect held

Man arrested on suspicion of stabbing a 21-year-old woman to death after argument near restaurant.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of killing his ex-fiancee.

The body of Iman Abu Khatila, a 21-year-old Palestinian, was found on Sunday buried in the desert, a few days after she was reported missing. She had been stabbed four times in the chest.

Police arrested her ex-fiance, also a 21-year-old Palestinian, near Al Halami Centre on Sunday night following what they described as a high-speed car chase.

Ms Abu Khatila’s family reported her missing on Friday after she failed to return to her home in the Markhaniya District on Thursday.

Brig Gen Hamad Ajlan Al Amimi, the head of the Al Ain Police, said: “Interviews with her family and co-workers led the police to suspect her ex-fiance was involved.”

The man has been referred to the public prosecution on charges of killing Ms Abu Khatila. Police said he initially denied having anything to do with the death, but later confessed following interrogation.

“The suspect said that his relationship with the victim continued even after their engagement ended because her family didn’t want her to marry him,” Brig Gen Al Amimi said. “The suspect said that since he couldn’t have her, he decided to kill her.

“The suspect said he had rented a car from one of the Al Ain rental agencies and picked up the victim. He then took her out to the desert, where he said that he killed her and buried her in the sand.”

According to police, the man then took them to the spot where the killing took place. Ms Abu Khatila’s body was recovered and a post-mortem was performed yesterday at Al Ain Hospital.