Row over 'laptop light' leads to roommate's death

A Pakistani driver allegedly fought with and caused the death of his roommate who asked him to switch off the room’s light and his laptop as the light was making it difficult for him to sleep, the Dubai Criminal Court heard.

At around 10pm, ND, 44, was in his room using his laptop while HK was lying in bed, wanting to sleep, at their labour accommodation in Al Quoz industrial area.

HK asked ND to switch off the room’s light as he wanted to sleep. The latter switched off the light and went back to using his laptop. The elderly roommate asked him to switch off the laptop too as the light of the screen made it difficult for him to sleep.

This upset ND who started a verbal fight with HK who got up from his bed and the two fought with their hands. ND pushed the victim towards the bed and stopped beating him. At this moment, a third roommate DW, 24, entered the room after taking his medicine outside. The room’s light was off when he came in.

“HK was having difficulty in breathing. I switched on the light and rushed to HK. I turned and looked at ND and he told me that he had a fight with HK. I rushed to the other room to ask for help as HK seemed to be passing away. When I returned, ND had left the room,” testified roommate DW.

KK, 54, told investigators that he rushed to the victim’s room when DW called him. “I went to the victim who was still having difficulty in breathing but he did not answer me. I rushed to my room and changed my dress to pick take him to hospital. When I returned to his room, he had already died.”


Police was rushed to the scene and forensic doctor suspected the death of the victim as there were traces of violence around his neck and on his face. Forensic later reported that the victim had cardio vascular problems and the cause of death was a heart attack that was triggered by anger and emotional and physical impulses.

ND is accused of unintentional physical assault that caused death.

 The Court will reconvene on May  12.
 

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