Court orders arrest of absent witness

The High Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against a prosecution witness who failed to appear to give evidence in a murder trial.

The court was hearing the case of a teenager, who has been charged in connection with killing Hussain Al Asfoor, in his early 20s, on June 1 following a fatal brawl.

The accused claimed earlier that he stabbed the victim in his chest after the latter sprayed foam on his face.

According to the accused’s statements, they were having a friendly conversation, before it took a fatal turn.

“He sprayed foam on me and I threw flour at him. He got angry and started attacking me. So I went out and took out a knife from my car and stabbed him,” the accused told prosecutors.

The accused was reportedly with his friend at the time of the incident. The latter stated he tried to stop the accused, but he too was threatened.

"They were attacking each other and suddenly my firned (the accused) came with a knife in his hand. I went to him to hold him back, but he threatened he would stab me if I touch him," the friend told prosecutors.

The accused handed himself to police, immediately after his victim was declared dead. 

The Northern Governorate Police Directorate said in a statement earlier they received a call from the Hamad Kanoo Health Centre about a person who died of a stab on his chest.