Brothers lose appeal in SUV murder case

Dubai: Two brothers have lost their appeal and failed to convince a court that running down a man in their sports utility vehicle (SUV) and killing him was an accident.

The Emirati brothers, 23-year-old S.O. and 21-year-old E.O., were said to have attacked the victim with sharp tools, and then chased him with their SUV up and down Algeria Road before mowing him down and killing him.

The Dubai Appeal Court overruled the brothers’ plea to be acquitted or have their jail terms reduced.

S.O. is currently serving a 10-year jail term while his younger brother is serving a three-year prison sentence. E.O. escaped with a reduced jail term on grounds of leniency because he was under the age of 21 when the incident happened on June 29, 2012.

Presiding judge Eisa Al Sharif upheld the primary judgement against the defendants, who entered a not guilty plea.

The brothers claimed that the victim’s death was an accident.

Body dragged for 15 metres

Court records said the victim, H.S., from the Comoros Islands, was run over and his body dragged beneath the SUV for nearly 15 metres.

Advocates argued that the victim had been involved in a previous fight with the defendants. The Emirati brothers said they did not intend to kill H.S.

“What happened was an accident,” they told the court.

According to prosecutors, S.O. drove the SUV while E.O. guided him as they chased the victim and carried out the murder.

Records quoted prosecution witnesses claiming that the defendants drove their car dangerously and at a speed of 100km/h on a minor road where the speed limit is 40km/h.

Witnesses said the defendants tried to run over H.S. who was standing with a group of men around 6am. Four witnesses testified that the SUV hit two cars while driving recklessly up and down the street and chasing the victim.

An Emirati policewoman, who lives in the neighbourhood, said she called the police after seeing the SUV run over the victim from her window.

An Emirati police corporal said when he arrived at the scene, he spotted a group of men gathered around the victim’s body. “A group of men tried to attack S.O., who was handcuffed inside the police car. I saw an injury on the victim’s leg. The SUV was damaged from several sides. Witnesses said the SUV’s driver tried to knock them down when H.S. was standing with them,” the corporal said.

The appeal judgement remains subject to appeal before the Cassation Court within 28 days.