Carpenter charged with attempted murder after friend is stabbed

Dubai: A Vietnamese carpenter has been charged with intentionally attempting to stab his compatriot with a kitchen knife while watching television.

The incident occurred on September 1 last year. A witness who was watching television along with the 22-year-old Vietnamese carpenter and his compatriot worker, said the latter was under the influence of liquor when he got irritated by the suspect's provocations.

The duo exchanged verbal abuses, before the victim tried to get hold of a knife to stab the suspect. But the suspect was faster and he produced a knife and stabbed the victim, V.T., thrice, added the 39-year-old Vietnamese witness.

The Public Prosecution charged the suspect, N.T., with intentionally attempting to kill V.T. The bill of charges said the suspect intended to kill the victim when he grabbed a knife and stabbed him in the chest and shoulder twice.

Yesterday, the suspect failed to deny or admit the charges when he appeared before the Dubai Court of First Instance because a Vietnamese translator was absent. Presiding Judge Fahmi Mounir adjourned the hearing until a translator was brought from the embassy.

Records said the suspect confessed his charges during interrogation.

The witness testified: "The suspect and I were watching television on the night of the incident ... the victim walked in and joined us. The suspect seemed to have provoked the victim, who got outraged and cursed N.T. The latter then cursed him back and the argument turned to a scuffle, before the victim went to fetch a knife to stab the suspect. N.T. then jumped out of the room. Meanwhile, V.T., who was drunk, thought the matter was over and refrained from getting the knife."

The witnesses added the carpenter then walked in with a knife. "He stabbed the victim in his chest and shoulder until we stopped him and phoned the police," claimed the witness.