Driver on trial for assault, unintentional death in UAE

A driver was charged at a Dubai court for allegedly assaulting a fellow worker and unintentionally causing his death.

The public prosecution records show that the 30-year-old Pakistani man had a verbal brawl with the victim, his countryman, on March 25, which evolved into a physical fight, following which the victim died of a heart stroke.

He denied at the Court of First Instance the charge of assault and unintentionally causing the victim’s death. He claimed he was just acting in self- defence.

The incident was handled by Al Foqaa police station.

A policeman, who went to the hospital, said: “I was on duty at 10.45pm when we received a report about a man who had a stroke while at the sewage station parking lot. By the time I reached the hospital the man had already died.

“The doctor, who examined him, told us he died due to a heart attack. I then checked the victim’s body and spotted some scratches under his eyes.”

The Pakistani worker, who was with him at the hospital, told the police that he took him there after he called him complaining of exhaustion and difficulty breathing.

The officer heard from some witnesses that the victim had a verbal brawl with the defendant and it soon evolved into a fist fight. The accused was then taken into custody.

The same Pakistani worker said in his deposition to the prosecutor that he was with the victim earlier. “He drove a sewage waste lorry and when we reached the sewage station, the victim stepped off and went away. After about 20 minutes, he called me asking for help. He was gasping for breath.

“I went to him and found him leaning to a chair. He said he could not breathe and that he had heart problems and felt a chest pain.”

The victim was then rushed to the hospital where he was declared dead.

The cause of death, as shown in the forensic report, was an acute heart failure resulting from a stroke. The victim, who already had heart problems, felt physically exhausted and mentally stressed because of the fight with the defendant and it all contributed towards his ailment.

The victim had face scratches and a minor bruise down his neck but those injuries did not cause his death.

The court will pronounce a ruling on July 31.

[email protected]