British newspaper editor confesses to killing wife by throwing hammer

(Web Desk) - A 60-year-old British newspaper editor confessed to killing his wife by throwing a hammer at her "without intending to kill".

Francis Matthew, the editor of the Gulf News newspaper had earlier told Dubai police that his wife was murdered by thieves who broke into their house. Matthew confessed to officers that he had thrown a hammer at her during an argument but had not intended to kill her.

According to UAE’s authorities, Matthew has been charged with murder of his wife Jane, The Telegraph reported. The UAE government said that Matthew called police to their home in the affluent Jumeirah area on July 4. They arrived to find Jane badly injured and her husband said she had been attacked by burglars.

“The examination revealed that the wife…died from a strong blow on her head with a solid object. There was also a possibility that that the husband was involved in the crime,” the government said in a statement.

Matthew later confessed to the police that it was in fact, him who had attacked Jane by throwing a hammer at her which injured her severely and led to her death. “The public prosecutor has charged the husband with premeditated murder in accordance with the federal penal code, and investigations continue in this case,” the government said.

Matthew was a part of the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club while his London-born wife taught at an English language school.

Matthew with the Emir of UAE

The couple had been married since 1985 and had lived in Dubai for almost 30 years. The incident has shocked the British expatriate community in Dubai.

Abdul Hamid Ahmad, editor-in-chief of Gulf News, said in a statement: ‘We are shocked and saddened at this tragedy. "Francis was editor of the paper from 1995-2005. He is a well-respected journalist, known for his keen insight into the Middle East."

Other co-workers also described Matthew as a friendly and calm individual and were shocked after hearing the news of the incident