Jail term doubled for man who stabbed friend to death with scissors

Defendant will serve 15 years behind bars after appeal lodged by prosecutors

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A student who stabbed his friend to death after a row at his family home has had his jail term more than doubled after an appeal by prosecutors.

The 26-year-old, from Pakistan, had invited the victim and another friend to his home in Um Al Sheif, Dubai, on August 5 of last year, but within hours the day took a tragic turn.

The third friend left after about an hour, leaving just the victim and defendant together.

The Filipino maid at the house found the victim bleeding heavily after being alerted by the sound of screams.

“I saw the victim bleeding heavily and rushed to the defendant's uncle’s room and informed him,” she said.

She said the victim was outside the villa, screaming the defendant’s name.

“I didn't see the defendant. I felt scared, so I woke the uncle up and then locked myself in my room,” said the 39-year-old maid.

The defendant's uncle called police.

“We arrived to find the victim outside bleeding and an ambulance rushed him to hospital where he later died,” said an Emirati police lieutenant.

The defendant was arrested two days later and, during questioning, he said the victim had provoked him and was acting strangely and wanting to fight.

“He told us that the victim chased him inside and outside the house, so he locked the door to prevent him from coming back inside and he told us that the victim tried to enter the villa again through the kitchen window,” said the officer, 34.

A police captain said that they found a blood trail from the villa’s door, leading to where the victim finally fell unconscious outside the villa.

The student denied a charge of premeditated murder at Dubai Criminal Court but was convicted and sentenced to seven years behind bars.

Prosecutors lodged an appeal, calling for a heavier punishment to be imposed.

Dubai's court of appeal revoked the verdict, sentencing the defendant to 15 years in prison, to be followed by deportation.