A Dubai Criminal Court sentenced an Australian man to life in prison for fatally stabbing his friend during a dispute in a Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) apartment on October 26, 2022. The sentence, issued on December 23, 2024, includes deportation after serving his term and is subject to appeal within 14 days.
According to a Khaleej Times report citing official documents, the incident began as a late-night argument that escalated into violence, leading to the victim’s death. The next morning, the lifeless body was discovered by the accused’s female acquaintance, who had been asked by the attacker to check on the victim. She alerted the police upon finding the victim.
Investigations revealed that the accused’s father was in the apartment on the day of the crime but was not present during the murder. When he returned, he discovered the victim’s body and confronted his son, who acted erratically and attempted to silence him. Instead of reporting the crime, the father arranged for his son’s stay in Sharjah and a planned return to Australia. The accused was arrested at a Sharjah hotel the following day.
The father, charged with failing to report the crime, cited shock and fear as reasons for his inaction. The court waived his prison sentence due to his age and familial relationship to the offender.
Under UAE law, a life sentence typically lasts 25 years.
