Man jailed for life over fatal stabbing attack at waterfront cafe in Dubai

The Dubai Criminal Court has handed down a life sentence to Israeli citizen Hassan Yajori, convicted of murder.

Five accomplices received 10-year sentences for their involvement in the murder, and two others were referred to the Court of Misdemeanours.

The crime, linked to a family dispute, occurred on May 24 at a cafe near Dubai Water Canal.

“After serving the men’s order of lunch and shisha, suddenly one of them stood up, pulled a knife from his pocket, and started chasing a man who had just walked into the cafe,” a waiter at the cafe told the court.

“The rest of the defendants followed, and when I ran after them, I saw one of them pull the knife out of the victim’s chest.” The waiter said the men had been visiting the cafe for two days before the incident, which took place about 20 minutes after their arrival that day.

The court heard that the victim, Ghassan Shamsyeh, 33, also from Israel, was unaware of their presence and was talking on the phone when he walked in with a friend.

Yajori then stabbed Mr Shamsyeh while five accomplices held down the victim’s friend to prevent him from intervening.

Eyewitnesses said the victim had tried to protect himself with a chair but was stabbed in the heart.

After the attack, the victim managed to escape and seek shelter in a car parked about 150 metres away.

“He managed to open the back door and get in. At that point, I ran back to the cafe and told them to call the police,” the car’s owner said.

The victim locked himself inside the vehicle, where he died as his attackers waited outside.

The court heard that Yajori had bought a penknife from a fishing equipment shop in Israel, and conspired with his accomplices to travel to Dubai and hunt down the victim.

A medical report said the cause of death was a 5cm stab wound to the heart, and the victim died about 10 minutes after taking shelter in the car.

All attackers were arrested on the same day. They were detained at airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi as they attempted to flee the country.

The verdict was issued on November 27.