Man kills worker in UAE, makes it look like poison death

Ras Al Khaimah - As per the court records, the suspect put poison in the victim's mouth to mislead criminal investigators.

A young African man stood trial at the Ras Al Khaimah criminal court for allegedly killing his fellow worker using a sand loader.
As per the court records, the suspect put poison in the victim's mouth to mislead criminal investigators.
The defence lawyer asked the court to send the case back to the public prosecution to complete investigations and ascertain the main reason behind the victim's death. He added that his client had nothing to do with the poison found in the mouth of the deceased.
"There must be someone else who did that, and then removed the finger prints from the insecticide used in the crime. The unidentified killer wanted to get rid of the victim apparently due to other litigations," the lawyer contended.
"My client did hit the victim on his head over a heated argument, but never intended to kill him." The lawyer said that the accused had admitted this to the prosecution and the court.
He pointed out that the psychiatrist he had requested for to determine the mental condition, intelligence and awareness of his client failed to appear in the court.
"My client, who speaks an African dialect, does not speak or understand Arabic, which was the language used in interrogations."
The lawyer said there was a discrepancy between the forensic report and that of the criminal lab.
"The forensic report showed that the victim died of a drop in blood circulation and difficulty in breathing, whereas the criminal lab report blamed the victim's death on the poison found in his stomach."
The lab report affirmed that the victim was alive after the accused beat him on his head, he added. "This shows that my client did not intend to kill him."
The forensic report did not specify the time of death to ascertain the exact reason behind it: the assault or the poison, he underlined.
"The victim was beaten at 1:00am, while he was declared dead due to poison at 3:00am - two hours later."
The defence lawyer also referred to a contradiction in the testimonies of the prosecution witness, who told the prosecution that he saw the suspect at the door of the farm at the time of the crime.
"He later told the court that he saw the defendant standing behind him in the middle of the road while going to check on the victim."
The court adjourned the case to February 27 to issue its verdict.
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com
 

• Ras Al Khaimah