Former Dubai editor gets murder sentence reduced to seven years

Dubai-based British journalist Francis Mathew, who murdered his wife with a hammer, has had his sentence reduced to seven years.

This means, Matthew, who has been in prison since July 2017, will spend five more years in prison. 

In March 2018, his sentence was increased from 10 to 15 years. But, in December 2018, Dubai’s highest court overturned the sentence and ordered a fresh trial at Appeal court.

Earlier, his lawyers had requested leniency and wanted the sentence reduced to two years for assault that led to death, as the defendant showed remorse.