'Accused had no intention to kill victim'

Dubai: The lawyer of an Emirati, who is facing premeditated murder charges, said his client had no intention to run over a British woman on Airport Road in June.

The 26-year-old unintentionally mowed down the 52-year-old victim, the lawyer said.

"He did not have any premeditated intentions as there was no acquaintance or relation between him and the victim and what happened was due to a provocation," argued his lawyer Abdul Moniem Bin Suwaidan, of Abdul Moniem Bin Suwaidan Advocates and Legal Consultants.

The Emirati, U.A., denied before the Dubai Court of First Instance the charge of premeditated murder of British woman, C.W., after she stepped out of a cab. He also denied intentionally attempting to kill her husband, British project manager, 54, and an Australian operations manager, 33.

Public Prosecution records said the two men escaped death, but sustained injuries.

"Unlike what the Public Prosecution mentioned in its arraignment sheet, the suspect ran down the deceased while backing up. No medical reports were available to confirm that the suspect injured the husband and his friend when he reportedly hit them with his sport utility vehicle and which was examined by the forensic laboratory and there were no signs of blood neither on the wheels nor the bumper," argued Bin Suwaidan before Presiding Judge Abdul Majid Al Nezamy.

Bin Suwaidan also asked the judge to drop the premeditated murder charge and charge his client with accidental killing or assault which led to death.

According to the prosecution, the victims were getting out of a cab which had stopped on the road blocking the way of the accused.

The accused reportedly had an argument with the victims and later he allegedly mowed down the victim.