CAIRO: According to reports by Al Hayat newspaper, a convicted Saudi serial killer said he would appeal the verdict in his case. The murder, only identified as ‘Awdhah', was sentenced to death by a Saudi Arabian sharia court on charges of luring, raping and killing housemaids. One of the victims was said to have been horribly disfigured. He confessed to committing the first crime two years ago in Yanbu, and is said to have known the victim, an Asian girl named Halima. After he had managed to entice her to leave her sponsor, he picked her up from the North Corniche of Yanbu in his car, and took her to one of his guest homes. It was there where he sexually attacked and abused her. He later beat and suffocated her with a pillow, burying the body in a sandy area on Yanbu Palm Road. He committed his second capitol crime in Yanbu Industrial area, after enticing another maid whom, was sitting alone in a parking lot. The second victim was taken to an isolated location, where he raped, killed and then buried her. His third rape and murder was of yet another Asian housemaid whom, he met near Al Asyaly footbridge—she was enticed to return to his home with him. He attempted to rape the maid in his house, while his wife and children were home. Although the maid managed to escape, he caught her—stabbing her to death. The method of disposal of the third woman's body was again burial in a remote location, after which, the killer returned home to his wife and children. Saudi Arabia's a criminal justice system is based on a hard-line and literally-interpreted form of sharia law. The death penalty is frequently imposed for a wide range of offences including murder, rape, armed robbery, repeated drug use, apostasy, adultery, witchcraft and sorcery. The punishment is carried out by beheading with a sword, stoning or firing squad, followed by crucifixion. The manner of execution in this case has not been specified according to published reports. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/GTzRH Tags: raped maids, Saudi serial killer Section: Crime, Human Rights, Latest News, Saudi Arabia