Man charged with murder after burning colleague to death

DUBAI // A man set two colleagues on fire, killing one of them, the Dubai Criminal Court was told on Sunday.

Pakistani D K, 32, sprayed compatriots A K and S F with petrol then set them on fire with a lighter.

A K suffered severe burns and died after spending four days in a coma in hospital. S F protected himself from the worst of the flames with a blanket.

The attack happened in a warehouse at a site for S S Lootah Construction in Jebel Ali in February.

D K is charged with the premeditated murder of A K and the attempted murder of S F, as well as starting fire in his company’s warehouse. He was not in court to enter a plea. Records show he fled the country shortly after the fire.

In evidence, S F, 35, said D K went to the warehouse where he and A K were working. He said D K sat with them for nearly an hour chatting and laughing.

“It was an absolutely friendly chat and he was very normal,” said S F.

He said D K left the warehouse but came back nearly ten minutes later, carrying a bucket.

“He started showering us and the warehouse materials and contents with the liquid from his bucket. Then, in a second, he struck his lighter and set A K and myself and the warehouse on fire. I was feeling cold that day so I had a blanket on my shoulders which absorbed most of the gasoline.

“Then fighting for my life, I kicked the wall so hard that I made a hole in it then I jumped outside,” said S F.

S F said A K managed to run out of the burning warehouse as well.

“He was like a ball of fire, no one was able to come near him, but one colleague came with a fire extinguisher and he kept on trying for quite some time until he managed to put the fire out, but sadly the man died few days later,” said S F.

Investigations could not find the reason behind the crime and records show D K was a decent man known for his good behaviour.

The case was adjourned until September 13.