Dubai: A trader who stabbed his business partner, pushed her out of his first-floor flat window and then stabbed her again to make sure she was dead has been jailed for 15 years.

Her body was found in the boot of her car six days after her husband reported her missing.

The Dubai Court of First Instance heard the 49-year-old Filipino merchant, R.A., invited his countrywoman business partner, L.V., to his flat to discuss business issues as he had convinced a Korean businessman to become their trade partner.

The 50-year-old businesswoman went to R.A.’s flat as they were scheduled to meet the Korean businessman there. She and the defendant had a heated argument before R.A. stabbed her to death. Prosecution records said R.A. grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed L.V., who tried to defend herself.

When the woman was near an open window, according to records, R.A. pushed her out and she fell from the first floor of his flat in Karama. Then he rushed down and stabbed her in the neck to make sure she was dead.

Court records said the businesswoman’s body was found in the trunk of her car, which was abandoned in Sharjah Industrial Area 11 on August 31. Her husband had reported her missing on August 26, 2012.

Presiding judge Wajdi Al Menyawi said the accused will be deported following the completion of his jail term.

“I am not guilty. I did not kill the woman...she jumped from my window. I did not push her,” R.A. told the court earlier.

His court-appointed lawyer asked the court to dismiss the murder charges saying his client did not intend to kill L.V.

Financial disputes

The lawyer also argued the victim jumped from the window of her own accord.

The deceased’s 65-year-old Filipino husband said when he returned home from work he couldn’t find his wife or her car.

“Friends and relatives, whom I called, said they had not seen or talked to her. I reported that my wife was missing to the police. I was summoned on August 29, 2012, to Al Rashidiya Police Station where I was asked about people who did business with my wife. When I was asked about why she was in Sharjah, I said I didn’t know. On August 31, I was asked to go to Sharjah Police where I was asked about the relationship between R.A. and L.V. I told them that he owed my wife money and that she kept his passport in her possession as a guarantee...he had given my wife dud cheques because he owed her money,” said the husband.

An Emirati police captain testified that the defendant had financial disputes with the victim.

“The husband cooperated with the police and guided us to the residence of the defendant, who was arrested while leaving his building. During questioning, R.A. alleged that L.V. had ruined his life and destroyed his family. He claimed that he had pulled his children from school due to his bad financial situation that was imposed on him because of the money he owed L.V. The defendant alleged that he had planned to kill her two weeks before he actually committed the crime. R.A. said he failed to lure her to his flat several times until he finally did so...” the captain told prosecutors.

Thursday’s ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.