A young Emirati man accused of killing a British tourist in a road rage incident will be sentenced on November 23, Dubai Court officials said on Thursday.
Omair Abdullah Eissa Thani Al Thani is charged in connection with the death of 30-year-old Katherine Wood on May 30.
Wood died after allegedly being run over by Al Thani’s white Hummer vehicle while out celebrating her birthday in Dubai’s Garhoud area.
Al Thani, aged 22, has been charged with the premeditated murder of Wood, the attempted murder of her husband and damaging public and private property.
His lawyer asked the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance to reduce the charge against his client to accidental death. He also urged the court to take account of the defendant’s youth.
The trial previously heard witness statements alleging the accused drove at Wood, her husband and their two friends as they left a taxi, before reversing his vehicle over Wood, causing fatal injuries.
The accused has denied all charges and defense continued to plead not guilty, claiming the incident was “unintentional”.
A witness to the accident had given evidence during the court session, saying he saw the Hummer hit the taxi passengers, and then reverse back over Mrs Wood.
Speaking after the latest hearing on Thursday, Mahmoud Azad Abu Gareda, advocate and legal consultant, told Arabian Business: “The case is a serious one, it’s not easy. If it was intentional killing – someone running a woman over and then reversing and running her over again three times is a monstrous crime.”
The ruling of the three judges dealing with the case will be announced on November 23.
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