UAE court postpones decision on Jennifer Dalquez

The Court of Appeals in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, has deferred its decision on the case of Jennifer Dalquez, the Filipina domestic helper facing execution for killing her employer in 2015.
According to Assistant Secretary Charles Jose, spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the court postponed its decision after one of the victim's children skipped the trial on Monday.
"According to our Embassy in Abu Dhabi, the UAE Court of Appeals postponed its decision on the case of OFW Jennifer Dalquez to April 12 because one of the victim's children did not appear in court today," Jose said.
The Al Ain court in February deferred the execution of Dalquez, 30, pending the decision of the victim's children whether to affirm the execution or opt for blood money.
Dalquez may escape the death sentence if the victim's two children refuse to swear in court and ask for blood money instead.
Dalquez was sentenced to death for killing her employer on May 20, 2015. She insisted it was self defense as her employer was allegedly trying to rape her and was armed with a knife.
In an interview on QRT, Jose said the Philippine government has submitted new evidence in an effort to convince the appellate court to reverse the death sentence on Dalquez.
"Sa apila po natin, may mga bago tayong evidence na sinubmit, yun pong expert witnesses sa crime scene. So hopefully makatutulong po ito na ma-reverse po yung desisyon ng Court of First Instance," Jose said.
"Pero ang crucial po rito ay yung ibibigay na pahayag ng dalawang anak ng biktima," he added. 
He also said the government extended all kinds of assistance to Dalquez.
"Binibigay po natin lahat ng posibleng tulong sa kanya. Isa na rito yung legal assistance. Nag-hire po tayo ng isang pribadong lawyer para sa kanyang defense at mula noong Day 1 ng kanyang judicial process ay nandun na po yung abogado," Jose said.
"Binigyan din po siya ng consular assistance, regular din po siyang binibisita ng ating embassy sa Abu Dhabi, at lahat po ng kanyang court hearings ay dinaluhan ng ating embassy representatives. Nag-facilitate din ang ating embassy sa pagbisita ng kanyang magulang noong November last year." —KBK, GMA News

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