UAE sentences Emirati woman to death for killing U.S. teacher

Abu Dhabi: The death sentence has been given to Ala’a Al Hashemi, who was found guilty of killing kindergarten teacher, Ibolya Ryan, last year, the Federal Supreme Court ruled on Monday. The 37-year-old American teacher is survived by her ex-husband and three children. The crime took place in the women’s rest room of the Boutik Mall on Al Reem Island on December 1, 2014. The murder weapon, a large kitchen knife, was left behind along with trails of blood on the site. Two women, who were in the bathroom during the time of the murder, later told the court that they heard the victim’s screams and saw the suspect, who had concealed her identity using a niqab (face covering), a shayla (headscarf) and an abaya (national clothing). Authorities condemned her use of the Emirati national dress to commit the murder. However, her attire meant that witnesses were unable to positively identify Ala’a as the killer in court.   Gulf News