Dubai: A sailor has been jailed for life for getting drunk and repeatedly stabbing his counterpart to death on a boat’s deck in a fit of rage. The 34-year-old Indian sailor, A.K., repeatedly cursed his countryman sailor, M.K., before he took a knife from a shelf and stabbed him thrice while he was under the influence of liquor in August.
The Dubai Court of First Instance convicted A.K. of intentionally murdering M.K. and consuming liquor.
When the defendant appeared in court, he pleaded not guilty contending that the deceased started the fight.
“I drank alcohol. We had a fight and he pointed the knife in my face first and attacked me. Then I stabbed him… but I did not intend to kill him. He assaulted me first,” A.K. argued in court.
Presiding judge Fahd Al Shamsi said the accused will be deported following the completion of his punishment.
An Indian fisherman, R.N., [who worked on the same boat] said the accused boarded the boat and went straight to the basement.
“He was not on good terms with the deceased. A minute later he returned to the deck and cursed the victim. The latter asked him to stop swearing at him. A.K. turned towards a wooden shelf and picked up a knife. Then he went towards R.K. and stabbed him in his belly, chest and neck. The victim fell on the floor… my colleagues and I immediately restrained A.K. and prevented him from continuing his attack. The victim did not assault the defendant. We took the knife away meanwhile A.K. sat down,” claimed R.N.
A fisherman, B.B., said the stabbing incident happened at 6.30pm.
“When A.K. stabbed R.K. in his belly, the latter collapsed on his knees… then the suspect stabbed him in his upper chest and the ear. While moving the defendant away, he kicked the victim who was bleeding profusely,” B.B. testified.
A policeman said the murderer was taken into custody immediately.
Wednesday’s ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.
