Murder case solved in 36 hours

A man wanted in a honour murder case was arrested within 39 hours of committing a crime in the capital, Abu Dhabi Police announced yesterday.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Matar Hamad Al Muhairi, Director of Al Asma (Capital) Police, the alleged culprit, whose identity was kept anonymous, was wanted for the murder of another Arab national. He was arrested with the co-operation of Sharjah Police on May Day.

"The relatively short time, within which the accused was caught, speaks of the efficiency of the police, which is the fruit of the wise policies of President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan," said Lt. Col. Al Muhairi.

"The Operation Room of the police received a call from a woman saying there was a murder in her flat. The call was made at 7:04am on April 29. The murder took place in a residential building in the centre of the city and the culprit escaped," said Lt Col Al Muhairi.

He said a police team reached the murder scene within 15 minutes after receiving the telephone call and found the man dead, with the main door open and no one in the flat. The victim was 27 years old.

"After the initial on-the-spot investigations, a special team was formed to solve the case, called 'Flat No. 901', named after flat number 901 of the building where the murder took place," the official said. He did not disclose the name of the building and its location.

After the initial investigations, a team, headed by Major Mohammed Khidayer, officer in charge of Medinat Police Station, was formed to solve the case, he added.

"With the intensified efforts and through the network of acquaintances of both the victim and the killer, the team managed to identify the alleged murderer, living in Sharjah. The case was soon resolved with the cooperation of Sharjah Police and he was arrested," the Al Asma Police Director said.

He said the alleged culprit, identified as a 38-year-old Arab national, confessed committing the crime during interrogation. On the day of the murder report, the police also found a dagger, used in the murder.

The autopsy report, according to Lt Col Al Muhairi, showed the victim was stabbed three times.

Referring to the motive of the murder, the official said the alleged killer suspected the victim was trying to develop an illicit relationship with his wife. "He might have killed the man for honour," the official said.

According to Lt Col Al Muhairi's briefing, two unidentified women, both Arab nationals, also came into the picture of the murder case. One of them was sleeping in a room, when the murder took place.

During the briefing, a film was screened for the press showing how the murder took place at the actual scene of the crime. The characters in the film included the alleged killer himself, the same woman who happened to be in the flat at the time of the murder, and an actor (acting as the victim).

The film started with the alleged killer calling the woman (in bed) from a telephone booth saying he was coming to the flat to use the bathroom.

He went to the bathroom, took out a dagger, came out in the corridor of the flat and allegedly stabbed the victim three times.

"Had you delayed for another four hours, I would have left the country," the alleged murderer told the police during interrogation.

He told the police his wife informed him that the victim was harassing her. So he killed the victim to take revenge. "I killed him to defend my honour," he told the police. He said he sent his wife to Sharjah and then returned to Abu Dhabi to kill the victim.