Senior journalist held over wife’s murder

dubai — The Dubai Police have arrested Gulf News Editor-at-Large Francis Matthew, 60, for allegedly killing his wife Jane Matthew, 62.

The Dubai Police said he confessed to hitting her with a sharp tool, but did not mean to kill her. The case has been referred to the Dubai Public Prosecution for further investigation.

Jane was found dead at their home in Jumeirah, Dubai, last Tuesday. Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officials and paramedics rushed to the residence after Matthew informed the police operations room that his wife had suffered injuries.

The police found him trying to revive her, but said that she was not responding.

They then shifted her to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The body was transferred to the General Department of Forensic Medicine, which found that she had been hit with a sharp instrument.

The police subsequently launched an investigation and interrogated Matthew, before placing him under arrest on Wednesday for allegedly murdering his wife. During the questioning, Matthew at first claimed that she

We can confirm the death of a British national in Dubai on July 4 and are providing support to the family at this sad time. British Embassy in Dubai

had a fall, but later admitted that he hit her with a sharp, heavy tool during an argument, “but didn’t think she would die”.

The body is still at the forensic laboratory and will be handed over after completion of legal and administrative procedures.

A statement sent to Khaleej Times by the British Embassy in Dubai said: “We can confirm the death of a British national in Dubai on July 4 and are providing support to the family at this sad time. We are also providing support to a British national detained in Dubai.”

Matthew was editor of the Dubai-based daily from 1995 to 2005.

Several of the UAE’s British expats said on social media that they were saddened by Jane Matthew’s death.

The couple had been married for 32 years and were very active members of the British expat community here.

amira@khaleejtimes.com