Man killed in drunken argument over singing, court told

Fatal stabbing occurred during a row over television volume, prosecutors say.

DUBAI // A drunk man was stabbed to death after he blared the television volume and sang loudly, annoying his roommates, a court heard today.

The Filipino laborer was stabbed in the neck, chest, face and arms by the 48-year-old carpenter RB, also Filipino, in the Bin Helieba labour camp in Jebel Ali on January 23, 2009, prosecutors told the court.

Prosecutors have asked the court for the death sentence.

RB denied the premeditated murder charges and called the incident an act of self defence.

Prosecution records show that on the evening of January 23, RB, the victim a third man had consumed alcohol in the labour camp.

RB told investigators that at one point the victim turned up the television volume and started singing at the top of his voice.

Records show that RB switched off the television, which infuriated the victim, who attacked him with a screwdriver.

"He attacked me and I fought with him and then stabbed him with a knife to protect myself," RB told investigators.

When police arrived they found RB sitting drunk on a bunk bed and the victim lying face down on the floor in a pool of blood.

Forensic evidence showed that RB consumed significantly less alcohol than the victim, which led prosecutors to file the premeditated murder charge.

According to his testimony, RB said it was not the first time they had argued about music and singing.

The Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance will reconvene on February 2 to hear witness testimony.