Dubai: The family of Dubai-resident Kerry Winter who went missing over seven months ago is starting to breathe again, as the prime suspect in her disappearance was charged with premeditated murder by the Public Prosecution on Thursday.
The 41-year-old British suspect, M.A., confessed to public prosecutors that he tied Kerry's body to weights and dumped her in the sea. The suspect has confessed that he beat her with a stick, took her in his boat and threw her body overboard.
Thirty-six year old South African Kerry has been missing since August 20, 2008. Her body has not been recovered.
Speaking to Gulf News from South Africa, Kerry's brother Kurt Winter said he was pleased that a charge had finally been made.
"It just depends on what happens in the court case now," he said.
He has spent several weeks in Dubai, flying back and forth from South Africa four times in the last seven months to meet with supporters and try to generate as much awareness on the case of his missing sister.
He said he would try to come back for the court case. The family is keen to retrieve Kerry's belongings and bring them back home.
"We're waiting for the court dates and then I am going to have a long hard think. It is a bit tough also financially. We would like to be able to get her stuff back at the same time," said Winter.
"My family, mother and brother are still sceptical about Kerry being killed. I feel that she's gone. We had a [church] service for her but my mother is against it. If she [Kerry] walked though the door then all that could be reversed but it's not likely to happen," he said.
The family would like Kerry's body back.
"My mother could breathe then."
Winter was in Dubai last week to be questioned by the prosecution for the first time on Kerry's relationship with M.A since he made a statement on Kerry's disappearance.
"Which was good," he said, "I think it's important they speak to us so I can tell them about Kerry."
Winter added that he would like to see if Kerry's passport is in her Al Barsha residence, where she was last seen.
Kerry was supposedly planning to travel to South Africa for her grandmother's 80th birthday before she disappeared. He added that Kerry had kept documentation on M.A. during their relationship and this may also be in the room.
