'Bad blood led to sword, knife attack'

Two men deny trying to kill a 20-year-old Emirati student in an attack last fall.

Powered by automated translation

DUBAI // Two men attacked a student with swords and knives over neighbourhood disagreements, a court heard yesterday.

The Emiratis AH, 20, and AM, 21, were charged with attempting to kill the student AY, 20, on October 9 last year in Al Qusais.

The Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance was told the three were part of a bigger gang that was still at large. A third defendant was referred for trial in the Dubai Juvenile Court, prosecutors said.

AY had argued with the defendants near his house in Al Qusais, they said.

"On October 2010, they contacted me and asked to see me to solve our quarrels," he told prosecutors. "When I went to meet them … with a friend, I saw a group of people carrying knives and swords waiting for me.

"[AM] hit me in the head and then stabbed me in the stomach, and the others hit me on the back of my neck and I fell unconscious.

"I know they intended to kill me, because I heard them saying that they were surprised to see me still alive after this assault."

His friend told prosecutors there were 15 men and boys with knives and swords during the assault.

AY was taken to Rashid Hospital in a critical condition.

AM and AH denied intending to kill him. "We only wanted to beat him up and then leave him," AM told the court.

A verdict is scheduled to be issued on June 28.