Neighbour killed maid with frying pan, court hears

ABU DHABI// A woman accused of killing her maid claimed her neighbour carried out the crime after the victim threatened to expose him as a homosexual, the criminal court heard yesterday.

NS is accused along with her neighbour, former policeman EH, of unintentionally causing the death of Indonesian maid, SS, who died after being hit over the head with a frying pan.

NS, an Emirati, presented a paper to judges saying that EH, also an Emirati, killed the maid after she threatened to report him to the police for being homosexual. NS requested that EH be examined by a doctor to prove his sexuality.

Her lawyer, Nashwa Al Kubaissy, asked the court to recall witnesses, as the case, which has been at the criminal court since last year, had changed with the new claim.

One of the witnesses, Ethiopian RY, who briefly worked as a maid for NS, claimed SS was beaten almost daily by her employer.

On the day of the maid's death, RY said she heard screaming and found SS lying naked on the floor unconscious.

Police records said NS confessed to beating SS with a frying pan, saying she did so to discipline her, not to kill her.

NS and EH told the court they did not beat SS. Police records said it was not clear who caused the death. The case was adjourned until June 12.