DUBAI // A man who killed his drunken roommate because he was singing too loudly had his three-year prison sentence upheld by the Appeals Court today.

The Filipino carpenter RB, 48, stabbed his compatriot in the neck, chest, face and arms in the Bin Helieba labour camp in Jebel Ali on January 23, 2009.

The fight was sparked after the carpenter's roommate returned to their labour camp living quarters after a drinking session, turned up the television volume and began singing at the top of his voice.

The carpenter switched off the television in protest, which infuriated the singing roommate who attacked the carpenter with a screwdriver.

When police arrived they found the carpenter sitting on a bunk bed and his roommate lying face down in a pool of blood on the floor.

Tests showed the carpenter had consumed significantly less alcohol than the dead roommate, which prompted prosecutors to file a premeditated murder charge.

The carpenter said it was not the first time they had argued about music and singing, and claimed in both his original trial and his appeal that he was acting in self-defence.

He will be deported after completing his prison term.

salamir@thenational.ae