DUBAI: An ex-death row inmate who fatally thumped a sleeping workmate and shoved him from above a villa was on Sunday granted an early release after 16 years behind bars.

The Asian labourer, 50, bludgeoned the Indian man, 30s, after workplace disputes at a villa under construction in Al Barsha on the early morning of June.3.2001, Bur Dubai Police Station records showed.

He ghastly thumped his face, head, neck and chest with a heavy tool then shoved him from the first-floor with the intention of killing him, prosecutors told the Dubai Criminal Court on Aug.14.2001.

Records showed the defendant reportedly confessed to the murder before police and prosecutors. The Criminal Court on Dec.25.2001 unanimously sentenced him to death. He appealed for mercy.

Prosecutors asked the Appeals Court to dismiss his mercy plea and uphold execution. However, in 2002 the Appeals Court commuted the punishment to 25 years in jail to be followed by deportation.

The Appeals Court discovered that after both had supper, they had a heated argument during which the deceased slapped the defendant and uttered insults targeting his mother, wife and sister.

Thereafter, both went to bed. But, the defendant remained thinking about the insults and assault until he decided to take revenge by killing him. He prepared a heavy tool and gloves and waited for him to sleep.

As soon as he confirmed the deceased was in deep sleep, he wore gloves and thumped his head, neck and chest, breaking his teeth. One of the deceased’s upper teeth broke and fell to the ground.

The deceased could no longer resist. The defendant dragged him and pushed him down into the stairway. He sustained severe brain haemorrhage besides multiple fractures on the head and in the chest.

The Appeals Court considered the reasons that drove the defendant into murdering his workmate. It overturned the death penalty and sentenced him to 25 years to be followed by deportation.

After spending more than 15 years behind bars abiding by prison laws he obtained a good conduct and behaviour certificate from the prison management indicating that he reformed.

He filed a request for early release. Prosecutors asked the Dubai Criminal Court to reject his plea due to the gruesomeness of the murder. However, the court accepted his early release on Sunday.