Murderer ‘suffered from depression’ court hears

ABU DHABI // A man who murdered his girlfriend’s ex-partner had a personality disorder and suffered from depression, the appeals court heard on Wednesday.

MB, from Tunis, was sentenced to death for murdering AS, an Egyptian, after being incited by his Canadian girlfriend, RQ, the appeals court heard.

The psychiatrist told the court MB visited him around ten times over two years.

“He suffered personality disorder and depression because he was feeling sad, angry and that caused him loss of control and impulsive behaviour.”

He said that he loses control over himself and it could lead to suicide or murder - therefore, I prescribed a psychotherapeutic medicine for him and not a psychosedative”.

When asked by the court if MB has criminal responsibility for his actions, the witness said the decision requires a panel of psychiatrists.

A former colleague of the defendant and the victim, also testified in court. He said that RQ was the one who knew the victim and there were disputes between them.

“I know the first defendant (MB) briefly, I used to see him around when we were in university. I also saw him a couple of times with RQ.

“And one day he told me that he will visit the psychiatric clinic after the gym.”

He said it was RQ who incited MB, “and she told me that the victim was threatening to send pictures of her that were saved in his laptop to her family, which he took under her consent while they were together”.

“And when I asked the victim if he would actually send them to her family, he said he was only threatening her to stay with him.”

The criminal court originally sentenced RQ to life in prison for inciting MB to kill AQ, four years for consuming drugs and one year for consensual sexual acts with MB.

The case was adjourned until January 10 to summon another witness.