UAE: TOP COURT REJECTS DEATH FOR CONVICTED KILLER

The UAE’s top court overturned a death sentence against a defendant convicted of murdering another man on the grounds the verdict was issued by the majority of a three-judge panel not consensus, newspapers reported.
The Federal Supreme Court (FSC) said the lower court violated a basic rule in the country’s judicial system stipulating court verdicts are issued by majority, except death sentences which must be approved by all the panel judges.
“The FSC overturned the death sentence against the defendant and ordered a retrial with new panel of judges,” 'Emarat Al Youm' daily said.
A lower court had sentenced the defendant to death after he was convicted of killing the victim by smashing a liquor bottle on his head to rob him.
An appeals court upheld the capital punishment, prompting the defendant to resort to the FSC on the grounds the verdict was issued by majority.