Accused killer, who claims Dubai roommate tried to poison him, referred for mental assessment

A carpenter who told the court that he killed his roommate because the victim had previously tried to poison him, will be referred to a mental assessment committee. 
Dubai Criminal Court was to issue a verdict in the case Monday morning, but instead ordered the accused, a 56-year-old Indian, be checked by a medical committee to evaluate his mental condition.
The man is accused of hitting his roommate on the head with a frying pan before stabbing him to death.
The accused told judges the victim tried to poison his food twice and that on the day of the murder he was asleep when he suddenly woke, walked to the victim who was on his bed and hit him on the head then stabbed him.
"I wasn't aware of myself or what I was doing, and I didn't mean to kill him," said the carpenter, who stabbed his victim twice on December 5, 2016, at a Al Quoz labour accommodation.
Prosecutors said he confessed to the premeditated murder charge during interrogations. When questioned about his reasons, he told investigators the man often threatened to beat him up and would constantly make recordings of him and use the clips to mock him.
The accommodation's supervisor called police at about 8pm after finding the body. The defendant was also found bleeding from stab wounds in the stomach from a suicide attempt. He was referred to Rashid Hospital for treatment.
A medical report said the deceased's head was crushed and his face disfigured by the blows.
The nationality and age of the victim were not mentioned in court records.
A date for the next hearing will be scheduled once the court receives the medical committee's report.