A YOUNG man lashed out in anger and stabbed a teenager who bad-mouthed his mother and sister on a private social media chat app, the High Criminal Court heard yesterday.
In an early morning confrontation on a popular beach, the 24-year-old defendant recounted that ‘he couldn’t contain himself’ so he pulled out a knife and plunged it into the 19-year-old’s chest. The Bahraini has been charged with assault and the court heard his alleged victim required emergency surgery on the injury. He was left with a permanent scar which a medical expert designated as a ‘1 per cent disability’.
“We were chatting on Snapchat, when he insulted my honour and said extremely vulgar things about my mother and sister,” the defendant earlier testified. “So, I told him to meet me at 6am on Malikiya beach. He came with four friends, but I asked to speak with him in private.
“I felt so angry and I couldn’t help myself, so I took out my knife, unfolded it and stabbed him with it. The knife penetrated his chest.
“It happened very quickly and no one realised what was going on. As soon as I pulled out the blade, the four friends all beat me up for two whole minutes.
“I threatened them with my second knife, not to call the police. I said: ‘Try me and you’ll see’ but they called the authorities anyways.
“It was unfair how they all dogpiled me. I’m just one guy and they’re five.”
The 19-year-old victim was taken to Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC), where he underwent exploratory surgery, which required for his chest to be opened in a procedure known as a sternotomy.
Doctors found that blood had collected in the area, medically known as a haematoma, and the excess blood needed to be drained with a chest tube.
According to a forensic medical expert, who examined the victim’s wound, the injury appeared to have been the result of a serrated blade. The knife, the prosecution state was used in the alleged crime, was black and measured at 7cm long and 2cm wide. A detective testified that two knives were found at the crime scene.
Initial police investigators, and later the Public Prosecution, visited Salmaniya Medical Complex to interview the victim.
Judges adjourned the hearing to March 15 for the defendant to be brought before the court. The defendant was unable to be brought to the courtroom from remand, because of the current situation.
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