Row over smoking ends in stabbing

Dubai: The trial of a Nepalese worker who got angry when his colleague asked him to smoke outside a room and tried to kill him with a knife started on Thursday.

Records said the 27-year-old suspect stabbed his Indian colleague with a knife in the stomach and shoulder outside the room which they shared in their labour accommodation.

"The incident happened coincidentally and I am not guilty as I didn't intend to kill or to try to end his life. Anyway, he is now back at work and he didn't die," argued the Nepalese suspect when he defended himself in front of Presiding Judge Abdul Majid Al Nezamy on Thursday.

The Public Prosecution charged the defendant, R.B., with premeditated attempt to murder his 26-year-old colleague, K.M. and drinking liquor. Records said the swift intervention of paramedics and medical teams helped save the victim's life.

The alleged victim testified that the suspect walked into the room with a cigarette.

"I asked him to put off the cigarette or to smoke outside the room because it was not allowed for us to smoke in the rooms. One of the guardsmen who passed by the room door also spotted the defendant and asked him to smoke outside. Our roommate, A.A., also asked the suspect the same thing. The Nepalese refused to obey our demands until we got involved in a heated argument before the suspect went out. Then myself and A.A. cooked for dinner and I went out to the rest room to wash my hands," added the victim in his statement.

Records alleged that the suspect attacked the Indian when he was returning to the room. The court will assign a lawyer to defend the suspect when it reconvenes next month.