Six-year jail term for man who killed sister upheld

Fujairah: The Fujairah Appeal Court on Monday upheld a six-year prison sentence for a man who murdered his sister over her choice of husband.

The Fujairah Criminal Court had previously convicted M.H., an Emirati, of murdering his sister, F.H. last March. He was sentenced to six years in prison and fined Dh50,000 as diya, or blood money.

The killer only escaped the death sentence after his own family forfeited their right to demand execution.

The body of the victim, who was thought to be in her thirties, was discovered in the family house in Qidfa on the morning of March 21.

Battered

M.H. disapproved strongly of his sister's choice of husband, and in a fit of rage he entered the family home and battered his sister to death before wrapping her body in a quilt and setting it on fire.

After a short manhunt, police apprehended M.H. who confessed immediately to murdering his sister.