Dubai: The father of a four-year-old boy raped and murdered in November rushed out of court in tears on Sunday after a judge confirmed the sentence of death against the accused.

The Dubai Court of Appeal upheld the death sentence against 30-year-old Emirati R.R., who was convicted of fatally assaulting Mousa, from Pakistan, in the washroom of a mosque.

"The court upholds the [sentence of] capital punishment concerning the murder and rape charge. Yet, the court overturns the six-month imprisonment [concerning the charge of consuming alcohol] and refers it to the Public Prosecution because this crime falls outside the court's jurisdiction," said Presiding Judge Eisa Al Sharif.

Shortly after the verdict's pronouncement, Mousa's father rushed out of Courtroom 20 in tears, saying: "Al Hamdullillah [Thank God] … thank you for the media and its support." Wiping his tears away, he then left.

Advocate Abdul Rahman Al Mudharreb, acting on behalf of R.R., asked the Dubai Appeals Court last month to commute his client's death sentence to a sentence of life in jail (25 years, according to the UAE Penal Code).

Appeal

"According to article 98 of the Federal Penal Code, we ask the court to reduce R.R.'s death sentence to life imprisonment. Otherwise, we ask the court to assign a committee of psychologists and sociologists from the Emirates Psychologists Association to examine R.R.'s mental, social, financial and educational conditions. When I met him in prison, he strongly [denied having] any intention to kill the boy. He alleged that he did not beat [the boy] on his head and argued that he gagged [the boy] to stop him from crying and shouting," Al Mudharreb argued.

The Appeals Court yesterday rejected the lawyer's appeal and confirmed R.R.'s sentence.

Earlier this year, the Dubai Court of First Instance handed R.R. a death sentence after he was convicted of raping and killing Mousa in the washroom of a mosque on the first day of Eid Al Adha in November.

He was also sentenced to six months in jail for consuming alcohol.

Sunday's judgment is still subject to appeal in Dubai's highest court, the Cassation Court, within 30 days.

Al Mudharreb told Gulf News yesterday that he has not decided whether he will appeal to the Cassation Court.

Al Mudharreb contended that a sane person could not commit such a crime.

"[R.R.] went through difficult life conditions. His mother died early, he [left] school at an early age, started working and became addicted to liquor and a mind-[altering] substance."