Man jailed for life for murdering prostitute

Victim's body was hidden under kitchen sink of her apartment

A man has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering a prostitute.

Dubai Criminal Court heard how the man, 33, had sex with his victim before strangling her in her own apartment.

After the killing, he hid the woman’s body under the kitchen sink before stealing her mobile phone and Dh150 in cash.

Police officers discovered the crime when neighbours complained of a bad smell coming from the flat. They later traced the stolen phone to the man.

“The victim’s phone was missing so we started looking for it and discovered it had been sold to a shop in the area,” a policeman told the court.

The attack happened on February 24 last year at an apartment block in Al Baraha, Dubai.

A security guard on the premises called police after residents complained of an “intolerable” smell coming from the victim’s flat.

Officers told the court that when they arrested the Pakistani man he initially admitted having sex with the woman but denied killing her.

He later changed his story and agreed to plead guilty to murder. During questioning, he said the pair had argued because he believed the woman had stolen Dh150 from him.

“He said they argued about the money and started fighting,” a police officer said. “The woman grabbed his shirt at which point he wrapped a cloth around her neck and killed her.”

The man was convicted of premeditated murder and theft. He was sentenced to life in prison followed by deportation.