Dubai: A court has given Dubai Police the power to force Wudeema’s father to attend an upcoming hearing after he refused to attend his trial on Wednesday.
The 29-year-old Emirati father, Hamad S., will have to attend the next hearing on January 2 before the Dubai Court of First Instance.
“The court permits law enforcement officers to use the required legal power against Hamad and force him to come to court in case he refused to do so,” said presiding judge Maher Salama Al Mahdi.
A policeman from Al Rashidiya Police Station, where Hamad is being detained, provided judge Al Mahdi with a written document confirming that the defendant refused to attend Wednesday’s hearing.
One out of three prosecution witnesses appeared in court to have their statements read.
Under the Criminal Procedures Law, the court is obliged to hear all prosecution witnesses in the presence of the defendant.
Wednesday’s incident comes after a dramatic scene unfolded during the previous hearing when Wudeema’s father got irritated by a lieutenant’s testimony and jumped over the dock to attack the witness before police restrained him.
Three policemen restrained Hamad, preventing him from approaching the witness.
Hamad and his 27-year-old Emirati girlfriend (who claims to be his wife), Al Onoud A. have denied illegally confining the two daughters in a flat, torturing eight-year-old Wudeema to death and injuring seven-year-old Meera.
Al Onoud previously admitted in court that she bore full responsibility of what happened.
“I did everything. I want you to give me a capital punishment… [she cursed and used foul language against the lieutenant].”
During Wednesday’s hearing, Hamad’s lawyer requested the court’s permission to produce defence witnesses in the hearing.
Prosecutors are seeking capital punishment against the defendants.
