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| Qatar Judge Postpones Child Murder Case Against American Couple | Qatar Judge Postpones Child Murder Case Against American Couple |
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| DOHA, Qatar — An American couple charged with killing their 8-year-old adopted daughter will have to wait several months for a verdict, after a court in the wealthy Persian Gulf emirate of Qatar on Tuesday postponed the proceedings until next year. | DOHA, Qatar — An American couple charged with killing their 8-year-old adopted daughter will have to wait several months for a verdict, after a court in the wealthy Persian Gulf emirate of Qatar on Tuesday postponed the proceedings until next year. |
| Both the prosecution and the defense in the case against Matthew Huang, 37, and Grace Huang, 36, offered brief spoken arguments when the case resumed on Tuesday after an adjournment of almost one month. But the written defense — usually made at the same time as oral submissions — will not be heard until February, a judge ruled, ordering the Huangs to include a rebuttal of the prosecution case. | Both the prosecution and the defense in the case against Matthew Huang, 37, and Grace Huang, 36, offered brief spoken arguments when the case resumed on Tuesday after an adjournment of almost one month. But the written defense — usually made at the same time as oral submissions — will not be heard until February, a judge ruled, ordering the Huangs to include a rebuttal of the prosecution case. |
| The couple’s lawyer, Sami Abu Shaikah, said that prosecutors had neither proved intent nor linked his clients definitively to the girl’s death — two requirements for finding defendants guilty of murder. He also cited a commonly used hadith, or saying, of the Prophet Muhammad: “It is better for a leader to make a mistake in forgiving than to make a mistake in punishing.” | |
| The next hearing will be on Feb. 5, when the judge is expected to set a date to announce the verdict. | The next hearing will be on Feb. 5, when the judge is expected to set a date to announce the verdict. |
| The Huangs have been in Qatar since July 2012, when they arrived accompanied by three children adopted from families in Africa, two boys and a girl. One of the children, Gloria, died last January, after not eating for several days. Qatari police investigators said the couple had starved the girl to sell her organs or “conduct medical experiments on them.” | The Huangs have been in Qatar since July 2012, when they arrived accompanied by three children adopted from families in Africa, two boys and a girl. One of the children, Gloria, died last January, after not eating for several days. Qatari police investigators said the couple had starved the girl to sell her organs or “conduct medical experiments on them.” |
| The Huangs and their supporters say the daughter died because of an underlying eating disorder. They have argued that the accusations against them are derived from flawed or nonexistent evidence, ethnic prejudice and cultural misunderstandings in a land where multiracial families and adoption are little understood. | The Huangs and their supporters say the daughter died because of an underlying eating disorder. They have argued that the accusations against them are derived from flawed or nonexistent evidence, ethnic prejudice and cultural misunderstandings in a land where multiracial families and adoption are little understood. |
| The parents were incarcerated shortly after Gloria’s death. Last month, a judge ordered their temporary release provided they did not leave Qatar while the trial is underway. Their two sons were permitted to leave Qatar in October to stay with family members in Los Angeles. | The parents were incarcerated shortly after Gloria’s death. Last month, a judge ordered their temporary release provided they did not leave Qatar while the trial is underway. Their two sons were permitted to leave Qatar in October to stay with family members in Los Angeles. |
| The family moved to Qatar after Mr. Huang, an engineer, was recruited to work on a major infrastructure project for the 2022 World Cup soccer tournament. | The family moved to Qatar after Mr. Huang, an engineer, was recruited to work on a major infrastructure project for the 2022 World Cup soccer tournament. |
| According to the prosecution, the couple kept Gloria locked in her bedroom and starved her to death. In remarks on Tuesday, a prosecutor accused the couple of standing before the court wearing “a disguise of humanity,” and repeated an earlier call for the death sentence, despite what Amnesty International calls Qatar’s longstanding moratorium on executions. | According to the prosecution, the couple kept Gloria locked in her bedroom and starved her to death. In remarks on Tuesday, a prosecutor accused the couple of standing before the court wearing “a disguise of humanity,” and repeated an earlier call for the death sentence, despite what Amnesty International calls Qatar’s longstanding moratorium on executions. |
| Defense lawyers say that the daughter suffered from an eating disorder stemming from growing up in extreme poverty in Ghana. Official medical records state that she died of dehydration and cachexia, or wasting syndrome. | Defense lawyers say that the daughter suffered from an eating disorder stemming from growing up in extreme poverty in Ghana. Official medical records state that she died of dehydration and cachexia, or wasting syndrome. |
| Eric Volz, the managing director of the David House Agency, which is coordinating the family’s defense and public relations, said: “We are disappointed and perplexed by the Qatari court’s decision to delay the legal process for another three long months. Our clients will continue to fight through the appropriate legal channels in order to demonstrate their innocence.” | Eric Volz, the managing director of the David House Agency, which is coordinating the family’s defense and public relations, said: “We are disappointed and perplexed by the Qatari court’s decision to delay the legal process for another three long months. Our clients will continue to fight through the appropriate legal channels in order to demonstrate their innocence.” |
Shabina S. Khatri reported from Doha, Qatar, and Alan Cowell from London. | Shabina S. Khatri reported from Doha, Qatar, and Alan Cowell from London. |