Electrician jailed for murdering workmate

dubai — An electrician, accused of killing a workmate by stabbing him with a blade during midday break at their company’s site, has been sentenced to five years in jail and deportation by the Court of First Instance.

Public prosecution documents show the two men, both Pakistanis, had a tiff which escalated to a fight after the 22 -year-old defendant refused to move his feet away from the victim at break time. He denied a premeditated murder charge in the court, claiming that he did not mean to kill the victim.

The site’s supervisor said the two men were among other workers in the company’s site in Ras al Khor on July 26, 2016.

“Around half past noon, the workers went inside an air-conditioned room where they had lunch and were to take a nap.

“However, the two men had an altercation after the defendant stretched his feet next to the victim’s head. They engaged in a fight as the defendant would not move away from the annoyed victim,” the Syrian supervisor said.

“I was alerted about the fight by the guard. But when I went there, I did not find the accused inside the room. I asked the others then to spend their break time outside. As I walked to my car, the guard came to tell me that the defendant had attacked the victim with a sharp tool. The ambulance was called and I found the victim badly injured.”

“I found the victim lying down unconscious, covered with blood. Workers told me the accused slashed the victim’s neck with a blade,” a policeman said.

A Pakistani electrician said shortly after the accused walked out of the room, he returned and attacked the victim. He took the victim by surprise in the corridor and attacked him from behind.

mary@khaleejtimes.com