Dubai: A nurse has claimed that he accidentally killed his countryman and did not have any intention of murdering him with a potato peeler when they quarrelled over a woman.
The 39-year-old Filipino nurse, O.J. was said to have invited his compatriot friends, including the victim L.N., over for dinner and he stabbed L.N. after having a heated argument over a woman.
An Emirati police lieutenant said the defendant admitted that he fought with L.N. and stabbed him after the victim mocked O.J. and sarcastically criticised his girlfriend.
“The suspect claimed that they were at his residence when the incident happened. O.J. alleged that L.N. asked him what was remarkable in his personality or character that made him a better person for his girlfriend to be with him! Then the victim assaulted O.J., who grabbed a sharp tool and stabbed L.N.,” said the lieutenant.
According to the charge sheet, prosecutors charged O.J. with intentionally murdering his countryman by repeatedly stabbing him in his chest with a potato peeler.
The defendant was also charged with consuming liquor.
“Your honour I am not guilty for murder… it happened by accident. I didn’t have any intention to kill him,” said the defendant when he appeared before the Dubai Court of First Instance.
He also confessed that he drank liquor.
A Filipino nurse, J.M., who witnessed the incident, said that the stabbing happened on October 2 when he went along with friends (including the victim) to dine at O.J.’s place.
“L.N., our woman friend and I went to dine at the suspect’s residence by 9pm. The woman went to the kitchen to cook while we sat down to chat. Then O.J. brought a liquor bottle… and we started drinking. The woman didn’t drink. For reasons I am not aware of, a heated argument erupted between O.J. and L.N. and it developed to a fight. They spoke in a language that I didn’t understand… and I didn’t notice any of them carry a sharp tool. I also didn’t see the defendant stabbing the victim. However I only saw a knife that the defendant used to cut lemons.
“L.N. left the flat and asked me to follow him. Then I heard O.J. claiming that he thought he had stabbed the victim. When I went out of the elevator, I spotted the victim on the floor and breathing heavily. When I put my hand on his chest, I realised that he was bleeding,” said J.M.
An Emirati policeman testified that O.J. was arrested shortly after J.M. reported the matter to the police.
Records said the defendant was arrested at Dubai International Airport.
A number of Filipino nurses were spotted attending Monday’s hearing.
Presiding judge Wajdi Al Menyawi said the court will appoint a lawyer to defend the suspect when it reconvenes on March 25.
