Dad left in coma after son attacked at supermarket

A gang of three attacked a father and son outside a supermarket, a court has heard.

DUBAI // A father was left in a coma after defending his son from three men who attacked them outside a supermarket.

MA, 46, and his 14-year-old son, BM, were visiting the shop in Abu Hail on February 26 when the attack occurred, the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance heard this morning.

Two of the men accused of attacking the Bahrainis, HJ, 31, and MY, 19, failed to show before the court, while a third defendant has been referred to the Juvenile Court. All three of the accused are Emirati.

The court heard that MA and his son had been buying bread when BM asked his father to drop him at the supermarket to buy some juice. Prosecutors said that while MA waited in the car for his son to return he was informed by an Indian man that BM was being attacked by three men.

"When I tried to break the fight two of the men attacked me from behind with sharp tools and hit me on the back of my head," MA told the court. He added that as he fell to the ground, the men continued to assault him.

MA fell into a coma following the attack, but regained consciousness in hospital. He lost feeling in two of the toes on his right foot and is unable to bend them. A medical report said the injury was permanent.

The report also said the son sustained injuries to the face, upper limps and back.

Court records did not elaborate on the reason behind the attack.

The case was adjourned to March 27.