Man jailed for life after hacking friend to death

An attacker under the influence of drugs who hacked a friend to death with a sword has been sentenced to life in prison after his insanity plea was rejected.

The savage attack by the Emirati, 23, was seen by a police officer who was on his way home, Dubai Criminal Court was told.

The court heard the man had lured his compatriot into a dark alley in Al Qusais, Dubai, before attacking him with a sword he was hiding under his clothing.

He fled the scene after the police officer approached him, but handed himself in hours later. The incident took place at about 11.30pm on January 22 this year.

When he appeared in court on a murder charge in March, the man insisted he did not remember carrying out the assault and entered a plea of insanity.

The court requested a medical report, which found the attacker was in control of his actions at the time of the incident.

He was under the influence of crystal methamphetamine when he surrendered to police, the court heard.

“He walked into Al Qusais police station with bloodstains on his clothes and didn’t look normal,” said an Emirati lieutenant.

Police later found a bloodstained sword stashed in a bush near the murder scene.

The weapon was found to have traces of the killer’s DNA and blood belonging to the victim.

The motive for the murder was not established.