AN Egyptian man has confessed to stabbing to death a Bahrain resident in Saudi Arabia, but claims he was acting in self-defence after his victim tried to sexually assault him, the GDN has learnt.
Saudi police are now awaiting a medical report to assess the claims of 28-year-old suspect Muhammad Mukhlis Shamsuddin, according to police sources.
The GDN yesterday confirmed that 46-year-old Briton Stephen John Havering was the victim of the brutal stabbing in Saudi Arabia last week.
Colonel Al Sulaiman revealed he suffered four stab wounds to his neck, one in the back and one to his waist during a knife attack last Tuesday.
His body was found on Wednesday morning in an apartment on Prince Naif Al Suad Street.
"The Egyptian suspect, Muhammad Mukhlis Shamsuddin, has claimed that Mr Havering was trying to sexually harass him," sources said.
"He says he stabbed Mr Havering in an attempt to defend himself.
"We are doing medical reports to see if the claims are true."
The sources added that Mr Havering was known to occasionally visit Saudi Arabia as an investment consultant for the Shoaibi Group, an oil company with several branches including one in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.
A colleague from Shoaibi Group told the GDN that Mr Havering had been living in Bahrain, but commuted to Saudi Arabia for the past six months.
He said he was married to a German woman and the couple had a son and a daughter.
It is thought his family were planning to join him in Bahrain from their home in the Netherlands.
"I didn't know him very long, maybe others knew him better," said the colleague, who asked to remain anonymous.
"But he was a typical Englishman with a good sense of humour, very gentle and a good father.
"I think everyone working with him had respect for his professionalism and politeness."
The co-worker added the news of his colleague's death had come as a big shock.
However, he said it had not caused panic in the company or community because authorities had made it clear that the incident was not linked to terrorism.
"We are sad and taken back by events," he added.
Meanwhile, the GDN has learnt that the Egyptian suspect is now recuperating at a private hospital in Khobar, but is due to be discharged in a matter of days.
The Arab News had previously said he was admitted to hospital suffering from knife wounds to his hands, adding that he was a translator who worked in the same company as Mr Havering.
However, the Egyptian Embassy in Saudi Arabia told the same newspaper that the fact they shared the same apartment did not suggest that Mr Shamsuddin was involved in the attack.
The British Foreign office has declined to discuss any details of the case, but did confirm that Mr Havering was the victim.
"We are waiting for more information from the Saudi authorities," a UK Foreign Office official told the GDN.
"The next of kin was immediately informed.
"We advise on the consular side and Foreign Office and are in regular communication with the Saudi authorities. We follow the family's wishes regarding the body."
becky@gdn.com.bh
basma@gdn.com.bh
