Carpenter batters man to death over phone light row

dubai — A 28-year-old Indian carpenter allegedly battered to death a man with an iron bar after the latter smashed his mobile phone triggered by a row over using its flashlight, a court heard.

The accused denied a premeditated murder charge in the Court of First Instance. The incident occurred on June 26 midnight and was reported to Jebel Ali police station the next day.

“We were informed around 7am about a murder in the Dubai Investment Park. We went to the crime scene and found it was a yard between two labour accommodations,” a police lieutenant said.

“We learned that prior to the killing, the defendant was drunk with one of his friends and they were using a mobile phone’s flashlight to search for the friend’s Emirates ID. The victim — also under the influence of alcohol — was sleeping and asked them to keep the flashlight away but they wouldn’t not turn it off.”

The victim then allegedly pushed the defendant, insulted and snatched his mobile phone and smashed it. The defendant’s friend intervened and calmed them down, promising to repair the phone.

The friend then left to the bus stop after asking the accused to leave the place too. But the accused picked up an iron bar and returned to where the victim was sleeping and beat him. The forensic expert blamed the death mainly on the severe internal bleeding.

mary@khaleejtimes.com