Former Gulf News editor sentenced to 10 years for killing wife

A Dubai court has sentenced Gulf News’s former editor-at-large to 10 years in prison for killing his wife with a hammer.

Francis Matthew, 61, was accused of fatally hitting his wife, Jane, twice on the head with a hammer at their home in Jumeirah on July 3 last year, killing her intentionally. He had pleaded not guilty to charges of premeditated murder, and his lawyer Ali Al Shamsi had urged the court to amend the charge to one of physical assault that led to the victim’s death.

It was unclear under which charge the court found Matthew guilty, but he had originally faced the death penalty. Now he must serve 10 years in jail, followed by deportation.

The incident had taken place following an altercation and the home of Matthew and his wife in Umm Suqeim. Dubai Police said they were called to the home at 5.45pm On July 4, where they found Matthew’s 62-year-old wife of more than 30 years dead in bed with a severe head wound.

In court, police testified that Matthew initially claimed that he had found his wife dead following a robbery, but later confessed, telling police that his wife had grown angry with him after he told her they were in debt and needed to move to a smaller home. Matthew said his wife had provoked him, calling him a “loser” and telling him it was his responsibility to provide them with money, prompting him to take a hammer from the kitchen, follow his wife to the bedroom, and hit her twice on the head while she was lying in bed.

The court heard the testimonies of  four Emirati police officers, a Sri Lankan gardener and an Egyptian forensic expert before making its judgement, as well as listening to good character testimonies from Matthew’s son, brother and sister.

Jane Matthew’s family were in court for the ruling, and her brother Peter Manning issued a statement on their behalf expressing disappointment in the verdict, adding that they “hope that this sentence is changed on appeal”.

The court ruling on Sunday is subject to appeal within a 15-day period.