DUBAI// An Indian labourer who stabbed his countryman with a kitchen knife five times in the face, neck, chest, back and arms has been jailed for seven years for attempted murder.
Prosecutors told the court that on October 23, 2012 at labour accommodation in Al Quoz the defendant N F, 39, walked into the room of his victim S O and stabbed him in the neck as he slept.
S O, 34, said in his testimony that he woke up and N F continued to stab him in various parts of his body. He ran out of his room to the corridor, before slipping into unconsciousness.
Prosecutors claimed N F left the victim in a pool of blood believing he had killed him.
The court also heard how the pair had a history of disputes and S O and had been sacked from his job that day.
Police corporal W N, 25, testified that he received a call about a stabbing at the camp at around 1pm on the day.
W N called an ambulance and the victim was taken to Rashid Hospital where he underwent several surgical procedures that saved his life.
“The workers told me about the defendant being in the victim’s room, so I tried to open the door but it was locked. I heard the voice of a man inside and I then forced the door open to see the defendant sitting on the bed and holding a knife in his hand,” said W N.
WN said the defendant placed the knife on the floor and then answered his questions about the stabbing.
“He said he stabbed the victim because he insulted him,” said W N.
N F had previously denied the charges, claiming he was in his unwell and lying down in his room at the time of the attack.
He will be deported once he finishes his sentence.
salamir@thenational.ae
