Dubai: Eighteen prisoners have won their second acquittal in the case of the murder of one of Dubai’s most notorious outlaws, who was killed inside Dubai Central Jail in August 2012.

Prosecutors had accused the inmates of murdering the 43-year-old Emirati victim, Ayoub A.Y., by stabbing him 37 times.

Known to Dubai Police for his extensive criminal record, Ayoub was said to have had his ear cut off, finger chopped off, and neck, back, stomach and shoulder slashed with in what prosecutors described as a “vengeance attack”.

On Sunday, the Dubai Appeal Court rejected prosecutors’ appeal to overturn the acquittal and hand the suspects a death sentence. Presiding judge Eisa Mohammad Al Sharif upheld their innocence.

According to the appeal judgement, the suspects were cleared due to the weakness of the evidence and inconsistency in witnesses’ statements.

The 18 inmates are 14 Emiratis, a Ukrainian, an Uzbek, a Pakistani and an Afghan.

A pair of Emirati brothers, 35-year-old R.S. and his younger brother M.S., and 30-year-old A.G. and his elder brother R.G., were believed to have led the deadly attack.

The two pairs of brothers (who were brought from Dubai Central Jail to hear the ruling) sighed in relief when they heard the ruling being upheld. One of them was heard saying ‘Hamdilla’.

Five other inmates were also cleared of attempting to murder R.M. due to lack of evidence.

All the suspects had entered a not guilty plea.

Prosecutors charged the 18 inmates with planning the murder and using sharp tools, a mop and a tray before surrounding Ayoub and attacking him further.

Court records said some defendants circled the victim and the attackers to prevent other inmates from defending or intervening to stop the fight that lasted nearly 15 minutes according to witnesses.

Brooms

Prosecutors said the deadly attack was preceded by a group fight between a separate group of five inmates (two Russians, a Georgian, an Uzbek and a Kyrgyz) who scuffled with another group from the 18 inmates.

The five inmates were charged with attempting to murder R.S.

According to the appeal judgement, the case lacked any evidence that the suspects intended to kill Ayoub.

The judges deemed the evidence submitted by prosecutors as vague and unclear.

Sunday’s ruling remains subject to appeal before the Cassation Court within 30 days.

Ayoub was serving a three-year jail term after he was convicted (along with others) of chopping off R.G.’s little finger with a cleaver.

Witnesses said R.G. led the act of vengeance along with his brother and the other Emirati brothers (R.S. and M.S.) using trays, mop handles and brooms as weapons during the attack.

R.M. used a tray to slice off the victim’s ear and stab him in different parts of his body.

Witnesses also claimed that they overheard several of the defendants saying that R.G. had vowed not to forgive Ayoub for chopping off his finger and decided to take revenge by chopping off any of the victim’s organs.

Records said the 18 defendants sneaked behind an Indian prisoner into the building two although they were not permitted to be there. Then they ganged up against the victim, who had pitched in to help a few of his Russian inmate friends who were engaged in another fight.

Witnesses said the defendants (who are accused of killing Ayoub) ganged up against the victim, took him to a corner that was not monitored by surveillance cameras and assaulted him.