Dubai editor case: Court overturns 15-year jail term, orders retrial

Dubai’s highest court has overturned the 15-year jail sentence handed to former Dubai newspaper editor Francis Matthew for killing his wife and ordered a retrial, it was reported on Tuesday.

Matthew’s sentence was increased from 10 to 15 years by the appeals court in October, under the charge of premeditated murder.

However, the Dubai cessation court ruled on Monday that his case must be heard by a new panel of judges, The National reported.

The 62-year-old British national hit his wife Jane Matthew on the head with a hammer and killed her on July 3 last year.

He was handed a 10-year prison sentence by the Dubai criminal court in March, after being convicted of “physical assault leading to death”.

Matthew then appealed for a reduced jail term after claiming that he was suffering from ‘temporary insanity’ triggered by ‘emotional stress’.

However, the appeals court rejected his plea, saying evidence showed that he had intended to kill his wife, following an argument about their finances.

The reason for the latest ruling by the cessation court and the date for the retrial has not yet been disclosed, The National reported.

Read: Dubai editor case: Jail sentence increased for Francis Matthew

Francis Matthew had been married to his wife for more than 32 years.

He called the police after hitting and killing her in the heat of an argument about their finances and claimed burglars were responsible for the assault.

However, Matthew later “confessed” to the Dubai Police that he committed the murder because of marital issues.

Also read: Dubai editor case: Francis Matthew had debts of over Dhs1m – report