Flatmates’ dinner argument ended with stabbing death, Dubai court hears

The two men were cutting vegetables and chatting when they got into an argument and one stabbed the other in the chest, Dubai Criminal Court hears.

DUBAI // An argument between two flatmates ended with one of them stabbing the other to death, a court heard on Thursday.

Defendant S K, 23, and his alleged victim, J G, were helping a third flatmate make dinner on November 9 last year, Dubai Criminal Court was told. The pair were chopping vegetables and chatting when the discussion became heated.

The third flatmate, R A, 32, testified that he was cooking at about 7.30pm when the others began to fight.

“Suddenly, the two started insulting each other, despite the fact they were just talking normally, then each one raised the knife in the face of the other,” he said. “I came in between them and tried to break up the fight.

“J G then put his knife on the table but S K did not and stabbed him on the left side of his chest.”

He said the victim ran to the workshop where he was employed, close to the flat, and informed his boss.

“He was bleeding heavily, so we called for an ambulance and we called police but S K had gone by then,” R A said. The victim was taken to Rashid Hospital but died soon after.

In court on Thursday, S K denied premeditated murder. “I didn’t mean to kill him,” he said. “We were joking and then he assaulted me and we fought.”

The next hearing, to appoint a defence lawyer, is on April 28.