Killer given chance to save his life

Abu Dhabi // A lorry driver convicted of stabbing his colleague to death after having sex with him has been given 40 days to convince the victim's family to accept blood money instead of insisting on his execution.

In October, the Abu Dhabi Criminal Court of First Instance sentenced F S, a 22-year-old Pakistani, to death in addition to three years in jail followed by deportation.

The man was found guilty of killing W A, a 26-year-old Pakistani, and repeatedly having sex with the victim and other people.

FS appealed the verdict last month, asking the court to reduce the sentence and to give him more time to talk the victim's family out of demanding the death penalty.

The case was adjourned until yesterday to hear whether the family would relent.

However, a family member told the court yesterday that the victim's wife and mother had insisted on execution.

"Diyyah will be more useful for his family's life and future," the judge said. "It is better, in religion, to forgive and reconcile."

The relative said the family would not change their mind. The judge replied: "Try again, you never know." He adjourned the case until January 31.

The family had earlier called for a swift execution to avoid a cycle of revenge attacks between the two families in Pakistan.

Prosecutors said FS lured the victim to a deserted sandy area in Al Rahba and attempted to have sex with him. They fought and FS stabbed the victim 32 times.

But the lorry driver told the court he was acting in self-defence. He said the victim had asked him to go for a walk.

The victim then pulled a knife from his trousers and tried to kill him, the defendant said, so he stabbed the victim in self-defence.

hhassan@thenational.ae