Man denies strangling roommate to death in Abu Dhabi

The defendant, from Bangladesh, said the victim was insulting his parents but said he did not know how he died.

ABU DHABI // A man accused of strangling his roommate said he does not know how he died — the Criminal Court heard on Wednesday.

The defendant, from Bangladesh, said the victim was insulting his parents, so he called his brother to complain about his actions.

“After I ended the call, he attacked me and put his hands around my neck to strangle me, so I called his brother again,” explained the defendant.

After that they started fighting again, “and I don’t know how he died”, he said.

He said they have been roommates for more than three years, and they even arrived on the same plane together.

“Did you see the blood come out of his mouth?” asked chief justice Idris Binmansour.

He said there was no bleeding.

“But the expert’s report says the victim died due to suffocation, what do you say about that?” asked the judge.

“After the second call he attacked me as I was lying down, trying to strangle me again. It took me by surprise so I pushed him away and I was not aware of how I was defending myself or how I injured him. After I pushed him I left the room.”

The chief justice then asked when he returned to the room.

“I did not return, his brother arrived 15 minutes later and I called my sponsor.”

“What about the victim’s clothes that were found under the bed?” continued the chief justice.

He said he did not know.

The court asked if the victim’s brother was still in the country.

He said he works at a farm in Al Khatm and he communicated with him through a third party.

“He said if there is compensation he is willing to reconcile.”

He provided the brother’s contact details to the court and the case was adjourned.