Man jailed in deep-fat fryer row

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), July 28, 2005

Byline: By Rob Kennedy

An Iranian restaurant worker has been jailed after smashing a brick into a colleague's head in a row over a deep-fat fryer.

Kmal Amini, who was tracked down earlier this year after the Chronicle published his picture when he absconded, admitted the attack in Newcastle city centre.

The 25-year-old had rowed with a colleague, Mr Iqbal, while the pair were working in a restaurant in Studley Terrace.

Amini had been using a fat fryer which, according to Mr Iqbal who was not entitled to do.

This sparked an argument which led a confrontation two days later in which Amini threw bricks at Mr Iqbal's head, fracturing his skull.

Barry Robson, prosecuting said: "Mr Iqbal left the restaurant round 11.45pm and he was walking the short distance to where his car was parked.

"As he did this he heard shouting and screaming and saw Amini running at him from across the road.

"The defendant threw something at him with his right hand. He was not able to say what the object was but we now know it was part of a brick.

"It hit him on the head and he felt immediate and intense pain. He was struck by one further object on his upper body and Amini threw another object which missed."

Mr Iqbal was taken to Newcastle General Hospital after the attack in May last year.

He suffered 8cm and 6cm cuts to his head, a fractured skull, bruising and grazes to his arm and has since suffered regular headaches.

Amini, from the West End of Newcastle, was jailed for 18 months at Newcastle Crown Court after admitting grievous bodily harm.

Mark Giuliani, mitigating, said: "In Iran verbal abuse is classed as a criminal offence and a police surgeon said Mr Amini had injuries consistent with him being attacked."