Dubai editor case: Forensic expert says Francis Matthew was ‘temporarily insane’ when he killed his wife

Former Dubai newspaper editor Francis Matthew was suffering from “temporary insanity” triggered by ‘emotional stress’ when he killed his wife, a forensic expert has said in court.

Matthew, 62, is currently appealing against a 10-year sentence that was handed down by a Dubai Court earlier this year for killing his wife, Jane Matthew, 62, in the heat of an argument about their finances.

The incident happened on July 3 last year.

Speaking at the Dubai Court of Appeal, Dr Muna Al Juhary – a forensic expert presented by Matthew’s lawyer, said that the defendant was unaware of his actions when he hit his wife with a hammer on the head, The National reported.

“Due to severe pressure and emotional stress he suffered from temporary insanity, which means that his logic and mental abilities were shut down and he lost all ability to distinguish right from wrong,” Al Juhary was quoted by the paper as saying.

Al Juhary also said forensic reports revealed that the defendant hit his wife on the head with a hammer once, rather than twice as was initially reported.

Matthew, who was was accused of ‘premeditated murder’ by the prosecutors, was found guilty of the charge of ‘physical assault leading to death’ at thge Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance.

The British expat had been married to his wife for more than 32 years. He called the police after hitting and killing her, and claimed burglars were responsible for the assault.

However, he later “confessed” to the Dubai Police that he committed the murder because of marital issues.

Jane’s brother Peter Manning has alleged that tensions between the couple had been increasing for at least a year because of Matthew’s growing debt of over Dhs1m.

Read more: Dubai editor case: Francis Matthew had debts of over Dhs1m – report

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for September 23, The National reported.

Matthew was serving as the editor-at-large of local daily Gulf News at the time of crime.