Indian jailed for 15 years for killing compatriot in UAE party

Dubai: A 29-year-old Indian man was on Monday jailed for 15 years in the UAE for stabbing his friend to death in an inebriated state at the latter`s birthday party.

S J, identified only by his initials, had a heated argument with fellow countryman A S before he stabbed him with a knife on December 16. "I was so drunk...I did not realise what I was doing," S J told the Dubai Court of First Instance. Judge Ezzat Abdul Lat sentenced S J, who works as a cook in Dubai, to an additional month in jail for getting drunk. "The defendant will be deported following the completion of his imprisonment," the judge was quoted as saying by the Gulf News. The accused in his defence said: "I stabbed him but I did not intend to kill him...I did not even think of killing him. I was drunk and it was a mistake." A mutual friend of the defendant and the victim said the incident took place at the flat of A S during his birthday party. He said the argument began when A S cursed S J`s brother for not attending the party. This led to heated exchanges between them and it was when S J stabbed the victim, he said. Forensic experts confirmed the victim was stabbed twice in the stomach and chest. Today`s ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.