DUBAI // The Emirati father and his pregnant girlfriend who are accused of torturing and killing his 8-year-old daughter told the Dubai Criminal Court today that they were not mentally stable at the time of the crime.
"I was receiving treatment at Al Khaleej Medical Centre and the documents can be found there and at the anti-narcotics department as well," said HS, the 29-year-old father.
The pair are charged with imprisoning and torturing the man's daughters Wadeema, 8, and Mira, 7. They are also charged with hiding the body of Wadeema, burying her without obtaining the proper burial permits and torturing Mira, causing her a 10 per cent permanent disability.
HS has denied all charges except hiding the body of his daughter. The girlfriend, AM, confessed to all charges before the presiding judge, Maher Salemeh.
The couple, who lived together in a studio apartment in International City, are accused of burning the girls with irons and cigarettes. They allegedly poured boiling water on the girls, and beat them with sticks, electrical wires and bars.
Prosecutors said the two also used a Taser gun on the girls.
After Wadeema was beaten to death, the father wrapped her in a cloth and buried her in the Sharjah desert.
"I beat [the children] and burned them, he did not do anything," AM said. "I lost realisation and I didn't control my behaviours. I only realised what I did was wrong after I did it," she told the judge, adding that she suffered from schizophrenia.
"Don't analyse as you please," the judge told her.
Wadeema's mother was present in the courtroom, and shouted at the couple as she left.
"They are liars!"
Hamady Al Shiwi, AM's lawyer, said he needed more time to read the case files, which he received yesterday.
The judge ordered that the two defendants be referred to Rashid Hospital for psychological evaluation by a three-member committee. He also ordered that the committee determine whether the defendants were aware of their actions at the time of the incident.
The next hearing will be on July 25 to hear witness testimony.
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Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
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SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
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TCL INFO
Teams:
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
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Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals
SERIES INFO
Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, Abu Dhabi Sunshine Series
All matches at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Test series
1st Test: Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 10 wickets
2nd Test: Wednesday, 10 March – Sunday, 14 March
Play starts at 9.30am
T20 series
1st T20I: Wednesday, 17 March
2nd T20I: Friday, 19 March
3rd T20I: Saturday, 20 March
TV
Supporters in the UAE can watch the matches on the Rabbithole channel on YouTube
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Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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While you're here
Results
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General Classification:
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 24:00:28
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Mini John Cooper Works Clubman and Mini John Cooper Works Countryman
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The National photo project
Chris Whiteoak, a photographer at The National, spent months taking some of Jacqui Allan's props around the UAE, positioning them perfectly in front of some of the country's most recognisable landmarks. He placed a pirate on Kite Beach, in front of the Burj Al Arab, the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland at the Burj Khalifa, and brought one of Allan's snails (Freddie, which represents her grandfather) to the Dubai Frame. In Abu Dhabi, a dinosaur went to Al Ain's Jebel Hafeet. And a flamingo was taken all the way to the Hatta Mountains. This special project suitably brings to life the quirky nature of Allan's prop shop (and Allan herself!).
Recipe: Spirulina Coconut Brothie
Ingredients
1 tbsp Spirulina powder
1 banana
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (full fat preferable)
1 tbsp fresh turmeric or turmeric powder
½ cup fresh spinach leaves
½ cup vegan broth
2 crushed ice cubes (optional)
Method
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Words come easy for aspiring writer Afra Al Muhairb. The business side of books, on the other hand, is entirely foreign to the 16-year-old Emirati. So, she followed her father’s advice and enroled in the Abu Dhabi Education Council’s summer entrepreneurship course at Abu Dhabi University hoping to pick up a few new skills.
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In the three-week class, pupils are challenged to come up with a business and develop an operational and marketing plan to support their idea. But, the learning goes far beyond sales and branding, said teacher Sonia Elhaj.
“It’s not only about starting up a business, it’s all the meta skills that goes with it -- building self confidence, communication,” said Ms Elhaj. “It’s a way to coach them and to harness ideas and to allow them to be creative. They are really hungry to do this and be heard. They are so happy to be actually doing something, to be engaged in creating something new, not only sitting and listening and getting new information and new knowledge. Now they are applying that knowledge.”
Afra’s team decided to focus their business idea on a restaurant modelled after the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Each level would have a different international cuisine and all the meat would be halal. The pupils thought of this after discussing a common problem they face when travelling abroad.
“Sometimes we find the struggle of finding halal food, so we just eat fish and cheese, so it’s hard for us to spend 20 days with fish and cheese,” said Afra. “So we made this tower so every person who comes – from Africa, from America – they will find the right food to eat.”
rpennington@thenational.ae
Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Geneva from Dh2,845 return, including taxes. The flight takes 6 hours.
The package
Clinique La Prairie offers a variety of programmes. A six-night Master Detox costs from 14,900 Swiss francs (Dh57,655), including all food, accommodation and a set schedule of medical consultations and spa treatments.
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Mina Cup winners
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Torque: 280Nm at 1,350-4,200rpm
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
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Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
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Seven tips from Emirates NBD
1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details
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3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately
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The specs
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Racecard
6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah Group Two (PA) US$55,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
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