Abu Dhabi: The Indonesian woman found guilty of murdering a four-month-old infant in April, 2013 faces the death penalty after the Abu Dhabi Court of Appeals upheld the verdict today (Tuesday).
The victim’s parents, who are the defendant’s employers, insisted that the suspect get the death penalty and refused to forgive her or ask for blood money instead.
The incident took place after the defendant, S.T., reportedly held the infant and banged her head against a table in her employer’s home.
Earlier court records state that the suspect did so out of spite towards the baby’s Filipina caregiver.
Gulf News had earlier reported that S.T. told the court that she confessed under emotional distress after being denied food, water and basic human needs.
“Psychological exhaustion and mental stress caused me to make my confession. After several interrogations on the day I confessed, I decided to give in just to escape the harsh conditions I was in,” she told the Court of Appeals during her trial last year.
S.T. still insists that the child’s death was accidental.
The defendant’s death sentence will be once again appealed at the Federal Court which will have to approve the verdict or reduce it to a life sentence.
