DUBAI // A man accused of burning his compatriot to death because the victim had spent time with a prostitute the man loved, was acquitted of premeditated murder charges this morning.
MM, 26, of Pakistan, was charged with burning JN on February 5, 2010. Prosecutors say JN was doused with petrol and set on fire.
According to prosecution records, MM's motive was jealousy over a prostitute with whom JN had spent time with.
Burnt shoes that police said belonged to MM were found at the scene and helped police locate him. When he was found he had burns on his legs.
Records show that on the evening of February 4, 2010, JN and his friend MI went to a brothel in Hor al Anz. JN ended up with HM, a prostitute, while his friend waited in the car. After several hours, MI called JN and told him they had to return to Abu Dhabi, records show.
"After I spoke with him, I waited and then heard a knock on my window and saw JN on fire asking me to help him," MI said.
MM told prosecutors that he visited HM every Friday for sex. But he denied the murder charges and denied being at the brothel that night, saying he was in Sharjah.
MM explained the burns on his legs by saying someone dropped hot oil on him, and that he received treatment at a Sharjah hospital.