Dubai maid who stabbed co-worker escapes death penalty

Dubai jail

Dubai: A woman who stabbed her co-worker to death because she called her crazy — and then stabbed herself in the neck with a meat skewer — has escaped the death sentence after appeal court judges failed to reach a decision. Her sentence was reduced to life imprisonment.

Prosecutors accused the 28-year-old Ethiopian housemaid of stabbing her countrywoman co-worker, H.S., 35 times before trying to slit her own throat with a meat skewer.

Prosecution records said F.Y. stabbed H.S. repeatedly with a kitchen knife following a brawl, the reasons for which remain unclear.

The attack happened inside the laundry room of a villa in the Al Bida’a area on July 9.

The defendant entered a not guilty plea before the Dubai Appeal Court.

Records said the accused was taken to hospital with a meat skewer in her neck.

Court records said F.Y. decided to kill H.S. because the latter mocked and talked about her with co-workers at their sponsor’s villa.

The Dubai Appeal Court ruling remains subject to appeal before the Cassation Court within 28 days.

Source: Gulf News, Sept. 30, 2013