A 41-year-old Indian computer programmer has denied in court the charge of premeditatedly attempting to murder his ex-girlfriend, who claimed he stabbed her 27 times.
According to a news report, prosecutors accused the man, identified only as MN of repeatedly stabbing the 23-year-old Filipina, identified as MS with knife and also attacked her two Indian workmates when they tried to save her, a Gulf News report said.
"I did not have any intention to kill her. The incident happened so suddenly and I did not preplan the whole matter...Besides I was under the influence of liquor," MN said, pleading not guilty before the Dubai Court of First Instance.
According to the charge sheet, MN repeatedly stabbed her with a medium-sized kitchen knife. The computer programmer was charged with the victim MS premeditated murder attempt and causing her 10 per cent permanent disability.
He was also arraigned with assaulting the Indian workmates identified as, 37-year-old EK and 45-year-old BC, and drinking liquor, the report said.
The defendant contended before presiding Judge Hamad Abdul Latif Abdul Jawad in courtroom yesterday: "I am not guilty...I consumed alcohol prior to the assault. I am seeking a swift judgment."
However, presiding Judge Abdul Jawad said the court would assign a lawyer to defend MN when it reconvenes on November 11. The Filipina testified that the incident happened some time after she jilted her ex-boyfriend and decided to leave him because he was married and due to religious differences.
"I broke up with him because we couldn't marry...He had earlier threatened to kill me if I ditched him. On August 4, 2009, he walked into the company where I worked as a receptionist.
I told him that I would speak to him later because he was drunk...Suddenly he faced me and took out a knife and started stabbing me," MS claimed. Prosecution records said workmates intervened upon hearing MS's cries. EK and BC were injured while saving the girl.