Youth jailed for 6 months over bid to murder man with swords

dubai — A jobless man has been sentenced to six months in jail by the Dubai Court of First Instance on an attempted murder charge after the court found him guilty of trying to kill a countryman with swords.

According to public prosecution documents, the Emirati — aged 24 — was driving a car with his compatriot friend, 28, in the passenger seat, when they attacked another man with swords and hit him on the head and shoulder, intending to kill him. They were also accused of chasing another man with swords, allegedly wanting to kill him.

They faced charges of attempted murder, physical assault and damage of others’ property.

Only the 24-year-old has been convicted of striking the complainant’s car with swords and damaging it. The case against the 28-year-old defendant was closed for reason of demise.

The court cleared a Sudanese man of criminal complicity. The incident took place on March 11, 2015, in Al Qusais.

The first complainant, a military man, said that he did not know the attackers prior to the incident.

He told the prosecutor that he was at a traffic light junction with his friend next to him when they had an altercation with the driver of another car.

That driver (the 24-year-old) then stepped off and rode on their car before he was asked to leave.

“As we drove off, that man hit our car headlights. When we stepped off, we were attacked with swords. I was hit in the head and shoulder.” His friend managed to run away unhurt. He claimed that the damage caused to his car was worth around Dh4,000. The other complainant, an Omani, confirmed having seen the accused hitting his friend with swords and damaging his car. “One of them was telling me to stop so he could chop my head off.”

He added that his friend did not have enough time to protect himself as he collapsed shortly after being attacked. According to the forensic report, the injuries inflicted on the first victim could have been deadly.

The two main accused have criminal records. mary@khaleejtimes.com