A retired Dubai prosecutor, Aref Boushaqer Al Falasi, recently shared the harrowing details of a 1996 murder case that culminated in a surreal moment of divine justice. The investigation centered on the kidnapping and murder of a nine-year-old girl, a crime that eventually led to the execution of the perpetrator by firing squad. During the execution, an error by a doctor resulted in the convict remaining alive for seven minutes after the initial shots were fired. Al Falasi later realized with astonishment that this duration perfectly mirrored the time the young victim had spent suffering before her death, a coincidence he viewed as a form of poetic retribution for her tragic loss.

The case, which garnered personal attention from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, remains etched in Al Falasi’s memory as a masterclass in forensic investigative work and the importance of listening to early evidence. He recalled how police dogs had signaled the location of the crime long before investigators found the body, a lesson he emphasizes for modern law enforcement. During the final moments, the victim's mother, who had been unable to find peace since the murder, chose to witness the process through to the end. For Al Falasi, the entire ordeal—from the initial search to the final shot—served as a sobering reminder of the gravity of his role and the profound lessons found in both justice and intuition.