Man says he did not plan to kill colleague after drinking binge

Dubai: A suspect admitted to having quarrelled with his colleague but denied charges that he intended to kill him, a court heard on Sunday.

The suspect has been charged with premeditated murder after he allegedly struck his colleague on the head with a concrete block after a drinking binge.

"We were having a drink together and a heated argument erupted between us… I hit him with the block but did not intend to kill him. It was a fight between us and I had no premeditated intention to kill him," argued the 32-year-old unemployed Indian as he defended himself before the Dubai Court of First Instance.

Prosecutors accused the suspect, B.K., of premeditatedly killing his compatriot victim, R.J., with a concrete block during the fight at a construction site in Mirdiff.

According to the chargesheet, the victim assaulted the defendant following a heated argument. B.K. plotted the murder and struck the victim as he slept.

A forensic doctor testified that the deceased had been drunk.

A 42-year-old Indian security guard testified that four men, including the suspect and the victim, were sitting together and consuming liquor.

"A heated argument erupted between the defendant and the victim before it evolved into a fight during which R.J. assaulted B.K.," the guard claimed.

An Emirati corporal said that preliminary investigations led to the arrest of the suspect who was caught hiding in a nearby mosque.

The court will assign a lawyer to defend the suspect when it reconvenes soon.