Chef ‘flung chilli into face of diner in row over rubbery chicken curry’
Indian restaurant owner got into heated row with customer, but tells court he acted in self-defence
AN INDIAN restaurant chef threw chilli powder in the face of a customer who complained about a “rubbery” chicken curry, a court has heard.
The incident occurred after a waiter at the Prince of Bengal eatery in Tonypandy, South Wales, asked David and Michelle Evans if they were enjoying their food, and they replied that the chicken was “tough and rubbery”, Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court was told.
This allegedly prompted a fracas, which ended with Kamrul Islam, 47, using foul language and throwing chilli powder at Mr Evans. Mr Islam, who is accused of causing Mr Evans actual bodily harm, claims he acted in selfdefence.
Opening the case yesterday, Stephen Donaghue, for the prosecution, said: “The defendant was the owner of the Prince of Bengal curry restaurant and, as a result of a complaint about the food, a dispute arose.
“The prosecution case is that this defendant grabbed a handful of chilli powder and threw it in the face of David Evans, thereby causing him difficulties with his eyes.”
Photographs show Mr Evans seemingly in pain, with chilli powder covering his face and clothes, and being treated in hospital.
Mr Donaghue continued: “It was reported to the waiter that they were not really happy and it was said that the chicken in particular was tough and rubbery.”
The court heard that the waiter left the table and returned with Mr Islam, who asked them what the problem was in an “aggressive and difficult manner”.
Mr Islam then allegedly started swearing at the couple about the complaint and said: “It’s f------ tandoori chicken.” Mrs Evans touched Mr Islam’s arm, the court heard, before he said: “Don’t f------ touch me” and walked towards the kitchen.
In police interviews Mr Islam accepted he threw the powder but said he acted in self-defence in the alleged attack in January.
“Mr Evans was unhappy that his wife had been spoken to in that manner and was demanding an apology from him,” he said. The court heard that Mr Evans followed Mr Islam and stood in the doorway of the kitchen.
Mr Donaghue said: “It was at this point that the defendant had some chilli powder in his hand that he had acquired in the kitchen and then threw it in the face of Mr Evans.”
Mr Evans’s reaction was “immediate and obvious” and he doubled up in pain, Mr Donaghue added.
He was taken to hospital, where a saline drip was used to clean his eyes and he was found to have suffered burns where the spice landed on him.
Mr Islam, of Pentre in the Rhondda valley, was arrested later that night. In interview he told officers he acted in self-defence because he thought Mr Evans was going to attack him, and denied swearing at the couple, the court was told.
Mr Donaghue said: “He was always polite, he said, and they, he thought, were simply trying to get a free meal or something like that, but he simply walked away. He felt that Mr Evans pursued him with a view to violence. He said he picked the chilli powder up because he thought Mr Evans might throw a punch at him and, as he turned around, Mr Evans was forming his hand into a fist as if to punch him.”
Mr Donaghue told jurors their task would be to look at the two areas of dispute – what was said at the table, and whether or not Mr Islam had acted in lawful self-defence.
Mr Islam denies assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The trial continues today.
‘Mr Islam thought they were simply trying to get a free meal or something like that, but he simply walked away’