Dubai: A martial arts expert was cleared on Sunday of killing his girlfriend in a fit of jealousy after a medical committee confirmed he had tried to resuscitate her and not murder her.
The 30-year-old Tunisian I.S., had denied killing his wife (according to Japanese records) in what prosecutors described as a murder based on jealousy and financial disputes. He was accused of killing the woman in their Al Nahda flat as soon as he learned that she intended to break up with him and commit to another man.
Records said the court-appointed committee’s findings confirmed the Tunisian’s claims that he had carried her body from the washroom to the bedroom and tried to resuscitate her.
His fingerprints on the woman’s body confirmed he had tried to perform CPR on her.
“I.S. is innocent,” said presiding judge Mohammad Jamal at the Dubai Court of First Instance.
The Tunisian had been fighting for his acquittal since May 2013, he had described his relationship with the Japanese woman, M.R, as “perfect” and said they loved each other.
Prosecutors said I.S. murdered M.R., by pressing his fingers around her neck using a special martial arts technique.
Dubai Police’s forensic examiner initially announced that the death was natural before an autopsy confirmed a week later that she had been killed.
“I did not kill her. When I returned home at 7pm she was collapsed in the washroom. I didn’t murder her… why would I do so. On the contrary, I tried to save her,” I.S. said.
‘Inconsistent statements’
The defendant, who has been in custody since May 2012, is expected to be released soon.
A lieutenant testified that the suspect first reported the incident to police in April 2012. “During questioning, I.S. claimed that she was his wife and that they had been living together for six months. The husband claimed that he left the house early in the morning and discovered M.R.’s body in the bathroom when he returned around 7pm. He claimed that he couldn’t resuscitate her. He said their relationship was perfect and they loved each other. Several police interrogators questioned the Tunisian and he constantly gave inconsistent statements.
“When M.R.’s mother arrived from Japan, she claimed to the police that her daughter complained that I.S. had become abusive and unbearable in the last few months. She said her daughter planned to break up with him for different reasons. On confronting I.S. with the witnesses’ statements, he admitted that they had disputes during the final days,” said the lieutenant.
Sunday’s ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.
