No justice for murdered maid in Qatar

I was appalled to see this story on the front page of the Gulf Times:

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=420325...

It is the story of a maid murdered at the hands of her female employer in their home. The killing was not quick, but a severe assault that caused multiple stab woulds and 43 bruises. No legitimate special circumstances, no claims of self-defense, etc. Yet the original sentence of a mere 5 years imprisonment was REDUCED by a higher court to only three years. The accompanying fine of blood money is unlikely to be paid by the guilty woman, who claimed hardship, and a local charity instead generously paid it out to the victim's family.

I have seen some odd sentences in Qatar and many punishments that I have thought too lenient or too severe, but mostly I write this off to cultural difference (i.e. I am not used to seeing people jailed for illicit relations, but I accept it as part of the culture in which I reside). But this is a MURDER of a young woman, and in any culture that should carry the most severe penalty. I understand that blood money reduces the sentence, but reducing what should carry execution or life imprison to a mere few years jail time is something I cannot even begin to fathom.

If someone can explain I would be most grateful.