DUBAI // A blacksmith killed his roommate after allegedly having been raped by him while he was drunk, the Dubai Criminal Court heard on Tuesday.
Prosecutors said that on June 13 S M, a 28-year-old Egyptian, waited for M N to get out of the shower at their accommodation in the Al Qusais industrial area then attacked him from behind. He cut his throat after hearing about the alleged rape from colleagues, said police major A A, 36.
“S M told us that he and the deceased used to drink alcohol together, then days later he noticed his colleagues giggle, laugh and whisper when they saw him. One of them called him the ‘bride’.
He asked why and was told that when S M had been drunk on several occasions, M N raped him.”
A A added in his testimony that the defendant became angry and decided to seek revenge and bought a knife three days before the murder.
“When M N returned to the room, S M confronted him about the rape but M N did not answer, looked down at him and turned his back, so S M attacked him and cut his throat.”
The police major said M N stumbled out of the room bleeding and fell next to a rubbish bin where he died. The defendant fled after throwing away the knife and bloodied clothes.
Nepali S S, 30, testified that he lived in the same room as the defendant and the dead man.
“I was out with my wife and when I returned to the shared room at nearly 8.30pm I noticed a man next to the bin, but I was afraid to get near him. I resumed walking towards the room and when I got there I saw a river of blood, so I called the manager of our company and told him,” said S S. He identified the victim as M N.
When S M did not return to the room, police distributed a photograph of him to patrols who arrested him shortly after.
Prosecutors said S M confessed during investigations. However, in court he denied premeditated murder and said he did assault M N with a knife but did not mean to end his life.
The next hearing will be November 25.
salamir@thenational.ae
