The appeal hearing for two Qatari men convicted in the killing of a British teacher resumed today with testimony from the final two witnesses ahead of closing arguments.
During this morning’s session, a defense lawyer made repeated suggestions that the victim – 24-year-old Lauren Patterson – was a heavy drinker who dated multiple men.
However, the witnesses he called to the stand – including an ex-boyfriend of the teacher – did not support that portrayal in their testimony, and the entire line of questioning was repeatedly contested by the prosecutor and the lawyer representing the victim’s family.
“(The defense lawyer) tried to paint a dreadful picture of my daughter and the witnesses proved him wrong,” Patterson’s mother, Alison, told Doha News following the hearing.
Patterson was killed in October 2013 after leaving a La Cigale nightclub with two acquaintances who would later be convicted in connection with her death.
Following a speedy criminal hearing, Badr Hashim Khamis Abdallah al-Jabar was sentenced to death in March 2014 for murdering Patterson.
His friend, Mohamed Abdallah Hassan Abdul Aziz, was handed a three-year prison sentence for helping al-Jabar burn the victim’s body, as well as damaging and erasing evidence.
Defense lawyers have argued that al-Jabar killed Patterson in self-defense and have made unsubstantiated references to her “emotional and psychological state” the night of her death.
Ex-boyfriend testimony
The first witness to testify today was Patterson’s ex-boyfriend. He said the couple began dating in April or May of 2013 but broke up after a few months.
When asked for details about why they parted ways, the man – a Qatari – said it had became apparent that the relationship was unlikely to lead to marriage and that Patterson would soon be leaving Qatar for her summer vacation.
He said there was no conflict or falling out and that the two maintained an amicable relationship, occasionally sending each other WhatsApp messages on their phones after the broke up.
The witness was asked if the couple had ever spent the night together during their relationship and whether Patterson had been intimately involved with other men and if she had ever spent the night alone with the man convicted of killing her.
The man said he had stayed overnight at Patterson’s flat, but that he didn’t know the answer to the latter questions and said it was Patterson’s personal business.
The defense lawyer did not articulate in court how his questions related to Patterson’s murder or ask the man any questions regarding the night of her death.
He later said one of Patterson’s friends – who was with the teacher the night she went missing and also testified today – had told prosecutors during their initial investigation that Patterson’s drinking was one reason for their breakup.
This prompted one of several objections from the prosecutor, who held a stack of papers in his hand as he said Patterson’s friend never made that statement.
The judge asked the court clerk to note the objection, but allowed the defense lawyer to continue to ask questions about Patterson’s drinking habits.
In response to the inquiries, Patterson’s ex-boyfriend said he raised his concerns with her about drinking and how it affected her behavior, but said it was not a factor in their breakup.
He added that she would become upset and that he was sometimes embarrassed by her actions, but said she would never reach the point of crying or becoming violent, screaming or behaving out of the ordinary.
Friend’s testimony
The second witness was a female friend of Patterson who was the last person to see the British teacher before she left the club with al-Jabar and Abdul Aziz.
Again, the defense lawyer asked the witness about an earlier statement that Patterson and her ex-boyfriend broke up because the teacher was a heavy drinker.
Patterson’s friend, a French national, told the lawyer she never made the statement.
The lawyer continued to ask the woman about Patterson’s alcohol consumption, including a question as to whether she was in the habit of drinking so much that she would pass out in public and sleep on the street.
The friend, echoing the testimony she gave during the criminal hearing, told the court that the teacher was in a sound enough frame of mind the evening she went missing to give al-Jabar directions to drop her at home.
She added that she and Patterson had run into al-Jabar and Aziz – with whom they were already acquainted – outside the club. The men said they had a table inside and invited the two women to join them.
Later on that evening, the friend testified that she briefly left the club to try to track down a peer in the parking lot to catch a ride home. Unsuccessful, she returned to see al-Jabar hugging Patterson.
She didn’t know what they were discussing, but then suggested to Patterson that they try to catch a taxi. She said al-Jabar objected and said he and Abdul Aziz would drive Patterson home.
“C’mon, we’re friends – you can trust us,” the woman recalled al-Jabar saying.
At the end of today’s hearing, the judge granted a request from both lawyers for time to prepare their closing arguments.
The next hearing is scheduled for Feb. 15.
Thoughts?
Pretty brave ex-boyfriend, would he not be making himself liable through some of those admissions?
If so, then he’s a decent man for speaking up regardless. I hope his statements help get justice for Lauren & her family.
Wow, I thought the “she was asking for it” defence didn’t work in rape cases – pretty ballsy going for it on a murder rap…
And that excuse is acceptable for murdering a human being???? I rest my case!
“Mohamed Abdallah Hassan Abdul Aziz, was handed a three-year prison sentence for helping al-Jabar burn the victim’s body”….did he take part in GOODFELLAS?
and even if she drank too much (which was only bad to her own health) is that an excuse to rape her and kill her? Goodfellas club again?
The defense lawyer is a born liar. Full of lies.
Show me an honest lawyer…anywhere.
in the sky
Not even there 🙂
Your looking in the wrong direction…look down.
killing her in self defence??!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Have they seen the size difference between Abdulaziz and hers?! Is this a sick joke or what?!
Is this some kind of joke? Why isn’t the judge stopping this kind of questioning? Whether she was a heavy drinker or had relationships with multiple men makes no difference to the murder charge.
As a defense it is feeble at best but what it is doing is inflicting pain on her family and friends.
This is a court of law not a playground!
Exactly. The beasts were doing what then. Dig into their past and question them. Just because a person is dead you dig into her past and not for these beasts.
It is a feeble defence, but he is just doing his job, even if it seems to be grasping at straws. No doubt it is painful for the family, but the lawyer is ethics bound to mount as vigorous a defence as he can.
I’m not sure of the situation in Qatar but if the defense lawyer or defendants are trying to drag out proceedings, go down blind alleys or just personally attack the victim the judge will usually call a halt to proceedings.
Indeed, but has the defence lawyer gone that far?
I agree with you 100% what kind of joke is this
LOL
lol
Exactly and by that same logic questions should also be asked if the two accused have not done the same or similar things before and got away with it for lack of any complaints or proof. They might have got away this time too but for some lucky breaks in the investigations. Now its time for the investigation agencies to dig a little deeper into this persons
You’re wrong! It’s a playground.
By the way, the use of the pictures will certianly turn these two guys into the most recognizable people around town, I can’t imagine the distinct looking friend getting out of jail and actually blending back in
Wow! Thank God I’m not a heavy drinker and don’t date multiple men!!!
I am happy for you Alanna.
“Heavy drinker” in Qatar-terms means you have one beer per week. The crime they committed is so disgusting that they definitely deserve nothing less than 15 years each. I am against the death penalty in general. Making the statement about the victim’s drinking habits which have nothing to do with the murder case shows how little respect the court and the defense attorney have for the family, the victim and its relatives.
“Heavy drinker” in Qatar terms means you have one beer a week. Funny
Are the men on trial or the victim? This is disgusting! How can they dredge up things about the victim but not say one word about the men who did this horrible thing to her??? There is something tragically wrong in this!! They are just trying to get the man off his death sentence and the one who got only 3 years should spend his life behind bars! Justice please!
i fail to see what her drinking habits or past relationships have to do with her murder
What is wrong with that defense lawyer!!
…simply doing what he was paid to do?
To defend his client, Not mock someone who was killed and dug up lol
If the defense lawyer goes further deep, many men will be prosecuted for adultery. So its better to stop digging her character any deeper.
Going by the logic of the defense lawyer, “a heavy drinker who dates multiple men” deserves to be raped and murdered – WOW!
I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHEN THE EXECUTION DATE IS?
Umm, the accused were also at the nightclub bar, did these boys get lost?
I can see where’s the lawyer is going with this, also lawyer was born lier because that’s what they do in any case, they get paid to lie and win your case. So nothing strange here. If the two man killed the girl, then they deserve to be killed too by the Islam And God book, but if the victim family want to drop the charge it’s up to them.
Still dont know why the fat dude only got three years ! If not execution then at least life
Neither of them deserve the right to draw air.