ABU DHABI // A man given the death sentence for murder after appealing against his original seven-year term has appealed again.
The man and his older brother fought in 2010 with their two cousins over a taxi rental, the Appeals Court heard yesterday.
The Pakistanis had rented a taxi from their cousins, but argued over whether they had already paid the agreed Dh3,000.
The fight escalated, with bricks and sticks being used. Finally, the elder of the brothers stabbed one of the cousins.
But the younger sibling agreed to take the blame so his brother could flee and settle matters with the cousin's relatives in Pakistan.
The younger brother confessed, believing that once his brother had left the country he could withdraw his confession, and that, in any case, the court would treat him more leniently as he was younger.
But he was sentenced to seven years for handing out a beating that led to the cousin's death.
He appealed, protesting that his older brother, not he, was the killer. But the Appeals Court, on the insistence of the victim's family, increased his sentence to execution.
At the second appeal yesterday, the defence lawyer asked for an acquittal. The court was also told the blood relatives had dropped their demand for a death sentence.
A verdict is scheduled to be announced on June 27.
