ABU DHABI // A man who burnt his aunt and uncle to death has been spared execution and instead jailed for three years after the heirs agreed to accept blood money.
The killer had previously received the death penalty at the Criminal, Appeals and Cassation courts. But before he was executed the heirs of the dead couple said they would accept Dh400,000 in blood money.
The case began four years ago after the aunt and uncle returned from holiday in their home country and found their company had lost a lot of money while they were away.
They blamed the nephew for the losses, because he had been left in charge. This provoked him to murder them.
He poured petrol into their bedroom while the aunt was taking a shower and the uncle was sleeping. Then he tricked his aunt into his bedroom.
Meanwhile, he went to her bedroom and locked her husband inside and set it alight. He then went back to his room and did the same while his aunt was inside.
As they were burning to death he stole his aunt’s jewellery and a suitcase hidden in the house that contained cash and important documents.
Police found him in possession of the suitcase and he was charged with premeditated murder. All three courts sentenced him to death.
Reconciliation efforts continued between the two families and eventually a lawyer for the victim’s son stated that his client was willing to renounce the death penalty in return for the full amount of blood money, Dh200,000 for each victim.
The Cassation Court replaced the death sentence with three years in jail and the blood money, followed by deportation.
hdajani@thenational.ae
