The family and friends of Jane Matthew, who was killed by her husband last year, have said they are devastated by a Dubai court’s decision to overturn his murder conviction.
Peter Manning, Jane's brother, told The National that her husband Francis, 62, clearly showed deadly intent when, after the two argued over finances, he followed her into a bedroom and hit her on the head with a hammer.
“Matthew, and all of us, can never be excused of killing someone just by claiming they ‘provoked’ us by mere words,” said Mr Manning.
“Carrying a hammer along two corridors before hitting Jane when she was lying down on the bed shows very clear and deadly intent.”
Mr Manning was speaking in response to the decision on Monday from Dubai Court of Cassation — the emirate's highest judicial body — to overturn the former Gulf New editor’s 15-year jail sentence and have his case reviewed by another panel of judges.
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Read more:
Jail sentence increased for former Gulf News editor who killed his wife
Former Gulf News editor was 'temporarily insane' when he killed his wife, court hears
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In March, the Briton, 62, was convicted of “physical assault leading to death” by Dubai Criminal Court, which sentenced him to 10 years in jail to be followed by deportation.
His sentence was increased to 15 years by Dubai Court of Appeal in October, when he was convicted of premeditated murder on the strength of evidence that apparently showed that Matthew had intended to kill his wife.
The reason for the retrial and the date was not disclosed but, under UAE law, once a sentence is issued by the appeals court, the Court of Cassation must review the legal procedures undertaken so far.
Should an error be found, the case is referred back to either the criminal or appeal court to be heard by a new panel of judges.
The court ordered the case be returned to the appeal court and that it should be heard by a set of judges other than those who had increased Matthew’s prison term.
On Tuesday, Mr Manning said he agreed with the appeal court’s initial decision to increase Matthew’s sentence.
“The appeal court was right to see through Matthew and it needs to press its case again," he said.
Mr Manning also questioned Matthew’s version of events, which were relayed to Dubai Police during questioning when he was arrested in July last year.
Matthew had told police that Jane, 63, had reacted to being told they would have to move house due to dwindling finances. After she insulted him, he took a hammer from the kitchen, followed her to a bedroom and hit her on the head while she was lying down.
He then set up their Umm Suqeim home to appear as though they had been robbed and went to work, only calling police upon his return to the villa that evening.
At the cassation court this week, Matthew’s lawyer, Ali Al Shamsi, argued that the former editor had no criminal intent to kill his wife but was provoked and suffered temporary insanity at the time of the killing.
He also argued that the appeal court’s ruling failed to provide justification for its decision to increase the sentence.
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes.
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
'O'
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More on animal trafficking
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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Set-jetting on the Emerald Isle
Other shows filmed in Ireland include: Vikings (County Wicklow), The Fall (Belfast), Line of Duty (Belfast), Penny Dreadful (Dublin), Ripper Street (Dublin), Krypton (Belfast)
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Spec%20sheet
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A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
