Dubai man strangles roommate to death with scarf

A construction worker, who strangled to death his roommate with a scarf following a verbal brawl, was sentenced to 15 years in jail on Sunday.
The Court of First Instance found the 23-year-old Indian man guilty of a premeditated murder charge. He earlier pleaded not guilty claiming they only had a fight.
However, he admitted stealing Dh 2,000 from the victim. He was given an additional 3 months in jail on a theft charge.
As per the court decision, he will be deported after serving his jail time.
When the police officers moved to the labour accommodation in Al Muhaisnah, Al Qusais, where the murder took place, they found the victim's body lying with the face down. The room was in a mess which suggests there had been a struggle.
The police arrested the accused around 9 am on January 20, 2016, one day after the incident, outside his accommodation.
When questioned, the defendant admitted to killing the victim. He claimed there was a misunderstanding between him and the victim.
"He claimed he had given the victim Dh 350 after the latter told him he could heal his sick wife with sorcery. The defendant's wife had burned herself in India and was being treated at hospital," a police lieutenant said.
They gave the defendant's father, about one week later, a small piece of cloth containing ashes. His wife was told to put the ashes in water and drink it. "When that did not work out for her, the accused started having doubts that the victim was fooling him".
The accused became easily irritated by the victim's words ever since.
At 5:50 am on the incident day, they had a verbal brawl when the victim came to his room and asked him about the reason he was still sleeping and did not go to work.
After the victim allegedly provoked him and pushed him down, the defendant put a scarf around the victim's neck and dragged him to the floor where the latter hit his head. He then strangled the victim while tying his hands. He left him motionless.
He then searched the victim's closet and stole some cash.
Another police officer said: "The accused claimed he stole the victim's money because he had taken money from him for what he promised would be a cure but which did not work for his wife".  
The court decision may be appealed.
mary@khaleejtimes.com