Dinner time dispute led to editor’s wife’s killing

dubai — Gulf News Editor-atLarge Francis Matthew has confessed to the murder of his wife and tampering with evidence in an attempt to cover up the crime, according to the Dubai Public Prosecution.

Matthew, 60 — who had been married to his wife Jane, 62, for 32 years — told the prosecution during interrogation that it all began during a dinner time dispute at their home in Jumeirah.

According to his confession, after a period of shouting, Jane refused to talk to him and retired to their bedroom, where he allegedly struck her twice in the head with a hammer.

According to prosecutors, Matthew said he became “frightened” when he saw her bleeding heavily. He drove away from his home with the hammer, which he allegedly attempted to hide in a bin located 200 metres from his home.

He told prosecutors that he then returned home and removed a safe from its hiding place and scattered items around his house before calling the police and reporting that thieves had entered the home and attacked his wife.

His wife was shifted to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Police forensic experts examined the scene and didn’t believe his claims, so he was arrested and interrogated. He then confessed that he had killed her.

Matthew reportedly expressed “sadness” for killing his wife after living decades together, and said that his life was now “destroyed”.

He also reportedly said that he has written a letter to his son expressing regret for what had happened, and noted that he did not mean to kill his wife and did so after losing control over himself in anger. The Dubai Public Prosecution has charged Matthew with premeditated murder.

amira@khaleejtimes.com