Prisoner with Delusional Hallucinations Avoids Death Sentence: A Pivotal Legal Ruling

A Sharjah appeals court overturned a death sentence for a murder defendant after medical experts determined he was mentally incapacitated during the crime. The court cleared him of criminal responsibility but ordered him to pay 200,000 dirhams in Islamic blood money and face deportation after payment.

The case reveals how mental health evaluations can completely change the outcome of serious criminal cases in the UAE's legal system. The defendant was experiencing severe psychological disturbance when he killed a coworker, believing he had received a "divine message" through a bird instructing him to carry out a "sacrifice."

Medical reports showed the man was convinced hidden entities were tampering with his phone and hacking his electronic accounts. He also believed he had designed one of the UAE's most famous landmarks. Doctors described these as "delusional hallucinations" showing complete detachment from reality.

The victim was sleeping at their workplace when the defendant struck him in the head with an iron tool, killing him instantly. Initial investigations suggested a direct assault, but further examination revealed significant mental health factors that changed how the court viewed the case.

The first-instance court had sentenced the defendant to death based on confessions, technical evidence, and forensic reports. But his defense team appealed, requesting a mental capacity evaluation based on unusual behavior they observed since his arrest.

Defense lawyers noted the defendant suffered from severe psychological disorder and uncontrolled behavior. They pushed for specialized medical assessment at a psychiatric hospital to evaluate his awareness at the time of the crime. The court agreed and ordered comprehensive evaluation.

The medical committee found the defendant suffers from severe schizophrenia, a chronic mental disorder that directly affects logical thinking and reality perception. This condition causes unfounded auditory and visual hallucinations, making patients unable to control behavior or consciously evaluate their actions.

During the trial via video link, the defendant's responses were incoherent with incomprehensible gestures, confirming actual mental disorder affecting perception. Prison records showed unstable behavior and moments of confusion and disorientation.

The medical report confirmed the defendant was hearing non-existent voices and believed people were trying to harm him. He thought supernatural forces controlled events around him, reflecting severe perceptual detachment. These delusions were part of his illness, not genuine beliefs from conscious will.

The psychiatric disorder severely impaired his ability to distinguish right from wrong and understand the nature and consequences of his actions. His mental state during the crime was sufficient cause for loss of will and awareness, completely eliminating criminal intent.

The appeals court based its decision on the medical committee's findings that schizophrenia symptoms appeared severely during the crime, affecting his perception and ability to direct his will. He lost awareness of his actions and their consequences.

The court concluded that mental disorder prevented criminal intent and removed criminal responsibility due to lack of sound perception required by law and Islamic jurisprudence. While this lifts criminal punishment, it doesn't affect civil rights - Islamic blood money remains obligatory regardless of the perpetrator's mental state.

The ruling reflects UAE courts' careful approach to cases involving mental health, balancing criminal justice with Islamic law principles. The 200,000 dirham payment represents compensation to the victim's family, while deportation removes the defendant from the country after payment.