DUBAI // The lawyer representing one of the most notorious men in the UAE says he has to do his job regardless of the crime or feelings he may have about the defendant and the crime that will send him to his death.
Ali Musabbeh Dhahi, who took over representing Jordanian killer Nidal Ali, 49, after the previous lawyer said he could no longer handle the burden of Obaida’s death, said after the verdict on Monday he had to “play his part”.
“It was my responsibility to provide the best legal defence for my client, regardless of the nature of his crime,” said Mr Dhahi.
“When I was appointed for this case, I accepted it in the same way I accept any other cases – there was no prejudice in it. And I proceeded in my defence as if it was like any other murder case.”
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Obaida case
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■ Obaida killer to be executed, Dubai's highest court rules
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The lawyer said the defence was built on challenging laws and technicalities.
“He pleaded guilty, so now my part was to challenge the legal procedures in the case to reduce his sentence, or hasten the verdict,” said the Emirati, who admitted that his first meeting with Ali was a difficult one.
“In my first meeting with Mr Ali, I was not that comfortable when I sat down with him. On the other side of the table, he was rigid and didn’t talk,” the lawyer said. “However, after the second meeting with him, we had a normal conversation, and talked about the case and what are the next moves were in the defence.
“In the end, I played my part to the best of my ability. If it was not me, there would have been another lawyer handling it.”
Last October, the gravity of the case got the better of defence lawyer Omran Darweesh, who requested at the appeals court to be excused from defending Ali.
“Your honour, I have done my duty as a lawyer and now I cannot bear the heavy weight of a child’s blood,” Mr Darweesh said.
“I have asked the lower court to refer him to a medical committee to evaluate his mental abilities but my requests were not met. Therefore, I find that I cannot continue to represent him and bear his blood or the blood of an innocent child,” he said.
A mental health assessment was later granted, and it found Ali fit to stand trial.
tzriqat@thenational.ae
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ICC Awards for 2021
MEN
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The years Ramadan fell in May
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Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
In numbers
1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
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- 150 tonnes to landfill
- 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
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Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
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Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
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Number of tracks: 10
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- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
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Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
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Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
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Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
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Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
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Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home
Maestro
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Thu Oct 26, 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi
Fri Oct 27, 2nd T20I, Abu Dhabi
Sun Oct 29, 3rd T20I, Lahore
Tickets are available at www.q-tickets.com
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Qatar beat Kuwait by 26 runs
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* The top three teams progress to the Asia Qualifier
'Nope'
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Based: Dubai, UAE
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Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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