Indian jailed for birthday party murder in UAE

Dubai, July 14 (IANS) An Indian expatriate, who stabbed his friend to death in an inebriated state at the latter's birthday party, has been jailed for 15 years in the UAE, a media report said.

The Indian cook, 29, identified only as S.J., stabbed his fellow countryman, identified only as A.S., after a heated argument during the latter's birthday party Dec 16 last year, Gulf News reported.

The Dubai Court of First Instance Monday also sentenced S.J. to an additional month in jail for getting drunk.

The man will be deported following the completion of his imprisonment, court ruled.

During the court proceedings, the accused contended that he was so drunk that he did not realise what he was doing.

"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. We had a fight and assaulted each other," S.J. was quoted as saying.

Police, who arrested the accused, confirmed that the victim was stabbed twice in the stomach and chest.

An Indian waiter, who witnessed the incident, told the prosecutors that the incident happened when the victim cursed S.J's brother and his family over their absence at the birthday party thrown by the victim at his studio apartment.