Cinema stabbing was only a fist fight, man tells court

Dubai // An unemployed 21-year-old denied stabbing another man outside a Dubai cinema, saying it was only fist fight.

WK, an Emirati facing a charge of attempted murder, told the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance today that he had been defending himself from an attack by OA and three other men.

"We fought your honour but I did not stab him," WK told Judge Hamad Abdul Latif.

Prosecutors said WK stabbed OA, a 30-year-old Pakistani salesman in July last year in the back, abdomen and leg.

OA was taken to Rashid Hospital following the incident and required treatment for a month. A doctor said he would have died had he been left just a few minutes more.

OA told the court he was watching a movie at Grand Cinemas with his brother when he went out to smoke. "The defendant appeared suddenly with others and attacked me," said OA.

An Emirati soldier said he noticed WK harassing two women prior to the attack. "When he came across the victim, he started stabbing him," said AM, 23. He said he dragged OA towards the main gate to stop WK from continuing his assault.

Another witness, RA, said that WK told him that OA was harassing his sister and her friend.

The case was adjourned to March 26.

salamir@thenational.ae