Dubai: An Egyptian driver has denied charges of premeditated murder after he was accused of stabbing his compatriot over Dh3,000. The suspect claimed that he acted in self defence.

"I swear to God I was defending myself against being stabbed by the victim… he was the one who picked out a knife from his pocket and wanted to attack me first," argued the 33-year-old S.H., crying as he defended himself before the Dubai Court of First Instance.

"I acted in self defence… I am not guilty and I was the one who reported the [matter to the] police," the suspect said yesterday.

Prosecutors charged S.H. with the premeditated murder of D.T., by stabbing him in front of Mall of the Emirates' Metro Station.

When asked by Presiding Judge Hamad Abdul Latif Abdul Jawad to explain how he defended himself after stabbing the victim 11 times, S.H. said: "He came towards me… I didn't mean to stab him but I was just defending myself because he held a knife to my face. Your Honour, I even tried to save him…"

With his hands covering his face and tearful eyes, the defendant said in courtroom four: "Your Honour, I had only been married for 45 days [since the incident happened] and I seek mercy."

According to the arraignment sheet, prosecutors said S.H. planned the murder of his compatriot.

A Dubai Police forensic doctor said the victim succumbed to his injuries as seven deep knife wounds ruptured his lungs and led to severe internal bleeding.

When questioned by prosecutors, the defendant was quoted saying: "D.T. asked me that evening to drive him to Jebel Ali Police Station to resolve our dispute after I had asked him to pay me Dh3,000 to share my accommodation."

"Before we reached the station, we had a heated argument… when I changed the car direction he took out a knife and cut my hand which was on the steering [wheel]," he told the court.

"Immediately I pressed the brakes, and the knife fell from his hand after he hit the dashboard. Then I repeatedly stabbed him with another knife in an act of self defence… then I called the police," S.H. claimed.

An Emirati police captain testified that when the defendant alerted the police he claimed that D.T. was severely wounded.

"We were on our way when Dubai Police's Operation Room informed us that D.T. died. I saw knife cuts in his neck, chest and hands… the suspect was taken into custody," the captain told the court.

The trial continues.