Killing of employer not premeditated, OFW Dalquez tells UAE court

Jennifer Dalquez, Filipina domestic helper facing execution in United Arab Emirates for murder, on Wednesday swore before the court that the killing of her employer in 2014 was not premeditated.
A report on Gulf Today said Dalquez swore in the name of Allah twice, once in Arabic and once in Filipino, that she stabbed her employer on December 7, 2014 to "defend herself and her reputation."
This, as her lawyer,  Nasser Al Shamsi, once again moved for the acquittal before Al Ain Appeals Court Judge Sofian Mohammad.
Though Wednesday's hearing was well attended by Filipino representatives from the Philippine Embassy, the court deferred its decision and set another date on June 19 after the victim's two sons skipped the hearing.
The report said Judge Mohammad requested the victim's two sons to appear before court on March 27 and April 12, though only one of them appeared in March and both did not show up in April.
Dalquez was asked to swear that she did not commit the crime intentionally in the name of Allah 50 times on both occasions.
The domestic helper was arrested on December 12, 2014 days after stabbing her employer who she said was trying to rape her.
She was sentenced to death by the Al Ain Court of First Instance on May 20, 2015 but was given an opportunity under Islamic law to reverse the decision if the victim's sons will not swear in the name of Allah that she killed their father and instead opt for the payment of blood money. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

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