Youth loses bid to dodge firing squad

A university undergraduate who fired a gun at his friend from point-blank range has had his death sentence upheld by Abu Dhabi Court of Cassation.

The judge rejected the appeal filed by the 20-year-old Emirati and said the court’s decision was final. However, the youth will not be executed until his sentence is endorsed by the President of the UAE.

The student was sentenced to death after he was found guilty of the premeditated murder of his 17-year-old Emirati friend.

The pair got into a fight at Khalidiya shopping mall in Abu Dhabi and the defendant pretended he wanted to sort out the problem so asked two other two friends to bring the victim to meet him one night.

They drove to a deserted beach where the defendant pulled out a gun and started to fire it into the air, telling his friends it was loaded with blanks.

“He then went to his car, pretending he had forgotten something, and loaded the gun with real bullets,” a witness said.

The man walked over to his friend aimed it at his head, and pulled the trigger.

The judge said he dismissed the appeal as there was no new evidence that would necessitate a fresh trial.

The court also said a new witness called by the defendant had made false claims.

ismail@7days.ae