A man who killed his father in a frenzied attack at their family home has had his death sentence upheld by an Abu Dhabi court.
The Emirati, whose age was not revealed in court records, stabbed his victim 36 times during Ramadan last year.
A death sentence was imposed by Al Ain Criminal Court in September but had to be subsequently approved by Abu Dhabi Court of Cassation before being considered final.
The accused's brother had rushed to his father's aid after witnessing the attack from the balcony of his room, Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) said after the Al Ain hearing.
He placed his father in his car to take him to hospital only for the assailant to crash his own car into the vehicle to prevent him from leaving the scene.
The court heard how the accused was known to have asked his father for money to buy drugs on a number of previous occasions and had threatened to assault him if he failed to do so.
Court records stated he had a conviction for drug abuse and had been placed in a detoxification clinic.
On the day of the murder, the date of which was not disclosed, the man lured his father into the courtyard to discuss an undisclosed matter before launching his attack.
“As soon as the victim came within an appropriate distance, the accused stabbed him 36 times with a blunt object in different parts of his body,” the judicial department said.
Another brother who was on the phone to his father at the time of the attack alerted police.
The accused was found guilty of premeditated murder and charged in relation to ramming his brother's car to prevent his father receiving medical assistance.
He was found to be under the influence of a psychoactive substance, Pregabalin, without a medical prescription as required by law.
Prosecutors argued for the strongest punishment, citing the fact that the victim was his father as an aggravating feature.
During the trial, the defence argued that the accused committed the crime while in a state of temporary insanity, due to being under the influence of drugs.
The court dismissed this argument.
Abu Dhabi Court of Cassation upheld the lower court's verdict.
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
