Pair deny murdering Abu Dhabi maid with frying pan

This content was originally posted in 7DAYS UAE website at: Pair deny murdering Abu Dhabi maid with frying pan The lawyer of a woman convicted of beating her housemaid to death with a frying pan has claimed the worker suffered from a chronic illness that might have caused her death. The Emirati and her neighbour, who is also Emirati and a former police officer, were accused of attacking her at the villa where she worked in Abu Dhabi in 2012. Prosecutors said the pair beat the Indonesian maid with their hands then hit her over the head with a pan, causing her death. “They beat her so badly until she fell unconscious,” said a prosecutor said. “The maid later succumbed to her injuries.” Prosecutors said during interviews with police, the woman confessed to hitting the maid with a frying pan, saying it was intended to discipline her and not to kill her. She later denied police those claims. A forensic report confirmed that the maid died of consistent impacts to her head. Abu Dhabi Criminal Court found the Emirati and her neighbour guilty of murder and each was jailed for 13 years. But, despite forensic evidence put forward, the pair challenged the verdict to the appeal court. They claim they found the maid on the floor, unconscious, after falling down the stairs. Defence lawyer Ali Al Abadi yesterday said the maid suffered from a chronic illness and depression that might have led to her death. He said: “There is evidence that the maid suffered from certain illnesses and was on medication during her stay in my client’s home.” He said: “She acted strange at times. It is important prosecutors to investigate the maid’s health status first – before putting her death on my client.” The trial was adjourned until January 31. ismail@7days.ae Read the original story at: Pair deny murdering Abu Dhabi maid with frying pan