DUBAI // A murderer sentenced to life in jail for killing a prostitute has lost in his bid to be released early from prison.
The Indian, who has served 15 years behind bars after being convicted in 2002, presented Dubai Criminal Court with a certificate of good conduct issued by Dubai prison. He told judges he was a changed man and the years behind bars had taught him many lessons.
On February 1, 2002, the Indian, then aged 37, strangled and stabbed the woman after arguing over the fee for having sex.
When he first appeared at the criminal court, he denied a charge of premeditated murder.
“When we fought in the car, I was speeding and she suddenly opened the door and wanted to jump out, so I pulled her back by the string of her purse,” he said.
“She accidentally hit her head as she slammed the door and the string was somehow wrapped around her neck.”
He dumped the woman’s body near Al Wasl Sports Club in Dubai and used her phone to call his family back home. The phone was traced after police found the victim’s body and identified her.
“We found the phone and her sim card inside the killer’s house,” said a policeman.
On October 28, 2002, he was convicted of premeditated murder and theft and sentenced to life in jail, to be followed by deportation.
The court rejected his request for an early release. A life sentence carries a minimum of 25 years in jail.
salamir@thenational.ae
