The crime
Moosa was at a mosque in Al Qusais during Eid al Adha when he was taken into a washroom area and killed. Police identified Rashid al Rashidi, an Emirati fishing-boat captain, as the suspect and arrested him shortly after the crime.
The case generated intense public attention in Dubai. The criminal prosecution alleged sexual violence as well as murder. During the appellate proceedings, a Dubai Police forensic doctor testified that there was evidence of sexual assault but, in his medical opinion, not evidence establishing rape. Other court reporting described the conviction as including rape. Because those accounts are not identical, this case file does not collapse the forensic testimony into a stronger factual claim than the source supports.
First-instance conviction
On January 27, 2010, Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance convicted al Rashidi and imposed the death penalty. A court-ordered psychiatric evaluation had found him aware of his actions and competent for criminal responsibility.
Capital cases proceeded automatically through appellate review. The defence challenged the finding of premeditation and aspects of the forensic evidence, but the conviction and death sentence were maintained by the Court of Appeal.
Final appeal
On June 7, 2010, Dubai's Court of Cassation rejected al Rashidi's final appeal. The emirate's highest appellate court reviewed the legality of the lower-court proceedings and confirmed the death sentence. Contemporary reporting described that decision as the last judicial step before the file went to the Ruler of Dubai for approval of the execution.
Execution
The sentence was carried out in February 2011. Both Gulf News and The National reported that al Rashidi was executed by firing squad after the final judicial and approval process had been completed.
Timeline
November 27, 2009: Moosa is murdered at a mosque in Al Qusais during Eid al Adha.
Late November 2009: Rashid al Rashidi is arrested and charged.
January 27, 2010: Dubai Criminal Court convicts him and imposes the death sentence.
April 2010: the Court of Appeal upholds the capital judgment.
June 7, 2010: the Court of Cassation rejects the final appeal and confirms the sentence.
February 2011: al Rashidi is executed by firing squad.
Current status
The murder of Moosa Mukhtiar Ahmed is Solved / Adjudicated. Rashid al Rashidi was convicted through Dubai's highest appellate court, and the sentence was carried out in 2011.