Drunk carpenters ‘killed countryman by kicking him in the head’

DUBAI // Two Indian carpenters have denied kicking their compatriot in the head, causing injuries that led to his death a month later, Dubai Criminal Court heard on Monday.

“I can’t remember what happened, I was completely drunk,” said one suspect, while the other denied assaulting the victim, 44.

The pair, both 40, are charged with assault leading to death and drinking alcohol without a licence. They confessed to the drinking charges.

Prosecutors told the court that on February 12 the three men were drinking together when a fight broke out among them, although no reason was given.

“It was about 11.30am and I was walking with a number of colleagues heading back to our accommodation at Dubai Investments Park when we all saw the two carpenters assault the deceased,” said Nepalese worker, 30.

He said that the victim was on the ground in a sandy patch not far from their accommodation and the carpenters were kicking him repeatedly to the head.

“We rushed there and saw the man bleeding from the head and we could smell alcohol on all three of them,” he said.

The attackers left as the worker and his colleagues attended to the injured man.

An ambulance took the victim to hospital where he spent more than a month and had several operations but he died of bleeding in the brain.

The labourers helped police to track down both suspects within 24 hours.

A medical report found that the carpenters suffered bruising from the fight and that the man’s death was caused by it.

The next hearing is scheduled for October 20.

salamir@thenational.ae