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In a development that could save the 17 Indians who have been awarded death penalty for killing a Pakistani man over a bootlegging turf war in Sharjah, the victim’s family on Thursday told the Appellate Court that they are ready to accept compensation.

Till the last hearing, the victim’s family had refused any such settlement and wanted the Indians to be executed as ruled by the Sharjah Shariah Court of First Instance.

The Court of Appeal adjourned Wednesday’s hearing to February 17, 2011 after a representative of the victim’s family presented their new request.

The representative, who has official authorisation from the victim’s family, told the court, ‘The family wants compensation, including ‘diya’ (blood money), or ‘qasas’ (death sentence) if the defendants refuse to pay the compensation.’

The court panel presided by Judge Abdulla Yousuf Al Shamsi, Judge Ahmed Labib and Public Prosecutor Mustafa Al Barodi referred the settlement application to the defence lawyers who said they would discuss the proposal with their and a representative of the Indian Consulate in Dubai.

Mohammed Salman, official spokesman of the defence team, said their clients would accept the settlement and pay money to the family.

In that case, the defendants would face at least a minimum penalty of three years in jail instead of capital punishment.

During Wednesday’s hearing, which lasted for two-and-a-half hours, the court heard witnesses Abdul Razal Asaad and Captain Mohammed Al Shamsi, both personnel of the Sharjah Police, who arrested the defendants after investigating the crime scene.

According to the case, the 17 Indians attacked the victim using sharp weapons, causing several injuries to him, including a skull fracture, which led to his death in June 2009. They are also charged with attempting to kill three other people, who were all admitted to the Kuwaiti Hospital after the brawl.