Bahraini man kills friend over spare parts

Manama : The closing arguments in the trial of a 35-year-old Bahraini man accused in connection with the murder of his friend will be heard on May 23.

The defendant had allegedly struck the victim with a metal rod on the head and the man died later owing to the injury he sustained. The incident occurred, according to the court files, owing to a dispute over stolen spare parts from a neighbouring stable.

The deceased, who is said to be an alcoholic, reportedly lived in a separate room at his family house in Al Musalla village. His brother, who reported his death to the police, said he had found the victim lying on the floor. 

“My mother told me to see my brother after we heard a noise coming out of his room. When I went inside, I saw him lying on the floor, and I thought he was drunk,” the brother said in his statement. 

“I went again the next day and found him in the same position, lying motionless. I shook his body, but he didn’t move, so I called the police and an ambulance,” he added. 

The forensic report had found out that the victim was hit with a physical object on his head, causing internal bleeding as well as fractures to his skull. 

Detectives were certain that the victim was attacked, but it was an eyewitness, who informed them about the incident after watching the suspect attacking the man inside the stable.

“I was passing by the stable when I saw him (the defendant) assaulting the man owing to a dispute over stolen items,” the eyewitness said in his statement. “He carried a metal rod and hit him on his head and body,” he added. 

Though the defendant admitted to the attack, he ruled out causing the death of the victim. 

“I received a phone call from him and another person, both of whom requested me to come and drink beer with them at the stable. The following day I learned that the neighbouring stable was robbed of spare parts, and they told me that he (the victim) and two others committed it,” the defendant said.

“I attacked them in order to find out whether they were responsible or not. But later I took him (the victim) to his house and he was fine,” he claimed.