Dubai: A cook has been jailed for 15 years for killing his friend, who had thrown a party at his flat to celebrate his birthday. The court heard the cook lashed out at his friend while in a drunken rage.
The 29-year-old Indian cook, S.J., was said to have had a heated argument with his countryman friend, A.S., before stabbing him with a kitchen knife and killing him on December 16.
“I was so drunk… I did not realise what I was doing,” S.J. told the court.
Presiding judge Ezzat Abdul Lat at the Dubai Court of First Instance also sentenced S.J. to an additional month in jail for getting drunk.
“The murder weapon will be confiscated. The defendant will be deported following the completion of his imprisonment,” said presiding judge Abdul Lat on Monday.
When asked if he intended to kill A.S., the defendant said: “I stabbed him but I did not intend to kill him … I did not even think of killing him. I was drunk and it was a mistake.”
An Indian waiter (a mutual friend of the defendant and the victim) said the incident took place when A.S. threw a birthday party at his flat.
“The victim invited friends. We consumed alcohol, celebrated and some invitees left the studio. S.J., two others and I stayed with A.S. The latter cursed S.J.’s brother because he did not attend his birthday party. The victim also cursed the defendant’s family. S.J. walked out of the studio angry.
“Ten minutes later he returned to the studio and stabbed A.S. When he tried to stab him again, I grabbed S.J.’s arm and prevented him. He struggled...both of us fell to the floor. Others intervened and stopped the accused. When the victim collapsed on the doorstep, we called an ambulance. The police came and arrested S.J. A.S. was still alive when he was rushed to hospital,” the waiter said.
An Indian worker testified that when he heard loud noises coming from the flat he intervened and took away the knife, wrapped it in a cloth and put it on the table.
Dubai Police’s forensic examiner confirmed the victim was stabbed twice in the stomach and chest.
Monday’s ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.
