A Scottish mother of three out celebrating her birthday has been run down and killed in an apparent road-rage incident in Dubai.

Kate Wood, 52, from Inverness, was standing on the pavement with her husband when a Hummer 4x4 sports utility vehicle knocked her down before reversing and driving over her again. The driver, who fled the scene, was traced by the police and has been charged with murder. The man, reported to be a young local, may face the death penalty.

Jeff Wood, the dead woman's husband, spoke at the weekend of his horror after the incident ten days ago on Airport Road, a three-lane highway. Mr Wood, 54, who escaped serious injury after the car ploughed into their group, said that he had been married to his wife for 33 “precious years”.

He said: “It is such a waste of a lovely woman's life. Kate was only a little woman and didn't stand a chance.”

The couple had been out with their friends Danielle and Brendan Hunter on May 29 and had enjoyed a meal before taking a taxi to a nightspot.

Mr Wood said: “The taxi driver pulled up on the left and Brendan, myself and Kate got out and were waiting on the pavement while Danielle was paying the taxi driver. I heard Brendan shout something like ‘watch out' and the Hummer sent me flying about 6ft. Brendan was knocked against the fence but the Hummer went right over Kate. Then, to my disbelief, the driver reversed and went forward over her again.”

Mrs Wood suffered serious head injuries and was taken to hospital but she was declared dead on arrival.

The Gulf News, a newspaper based in Dubai, said: “At the moment the charge is premeditated murder. If guilty of such a charge, the sentence could be a long time in jail or, in some cases, death.”

It claimed that a witness told police that the Hummer driver had become angry after the taxi driver braked in front of him several times.

Mrs Wood's funeral will be held in Scotland tomorrow.

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