Man admits fatally stabbing friend in drunken row

Jacek Dembinski died last year

A man inflicted a fatal knife wound on a friend at an Aberdeen tower block after an argument turned to violence, a court has heard.

Dawid Majewicz, 43, struck Jacek Dembinski, 44, with a kitchen knife during an alcohol-fuelled argument at Rosehill Court in August last year.

Mr Dembinski had emergency surgery at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary but died from complications, the High Court in Edinburgh heard.

Majewicz was originally charged with murder, but admitted the reduced charge of culpable homicide. Sentencing was deferred for reports.

Dawid Majewicz admitted the attack

Majewicz, a car valeter, admitted assaulting and killing Mr Dembinski on 27 August last year.

He struggled with his victim, struck him on the arm with the knife, and failed to summon emergency medical aid for the victim.

Advocate depute Louise Beattie said Majewicz - who was born in Poland and moved to Scotland in 2008 - had three previous convictions for violence, including a serious assault.

The two men were seen together in a lift at Rosehill Court before going into Majewicz's flat in the block.

The prosecutor said that a neighbour subsequently heard sounds of an on-and-off disturbance coming from the flat.

She told the court that Majewicz's position was that they were at his flat drinking when they started to argue and the now deceased picked up a bottle and brandished it at him.

The court heard Majewicz picked up the knife and brandished the weapon at his victim. During an ensuing struggle he struck Mr Dembinski on the arm with the blade after he was hit with the bottle.

The attack happened at Rosehill Court

The injured man was seen in the lift bleeding profusely from his arm and neighbours who saw him outside the block of flats contacted emergency services.

Ms Beattie said: "He was seen by a witness from her window at a nearby block of flats to collapse forward to the ground at which point blood was pouring from underneath him onto the pavement."

A witness who was leaving Rosehill Court heard him say: "Help me, help." He went to the stricken victim's aid until emergency services arrived.

Police who went to Majewicz's flat found that it was heavily blood-stained throughout.

The victim died following complications from the arm wound.

'Provide some solace'

Lord Scott told Majewicz: "Clearly it remains a very serious matter, albeit the charge is one of culpable homicide rather than murder.

"You should return prepared for a significant custodial sentence on the next occasion."

Mr Dembinski's family said in a statement at the time: "Jacek was a much-loved son, brother, brother-in-law, uncle and step-father. He will be greatly missed by all."

Det Insp Gavin Fleming, of Police Scotland, said: "Majewicz is now facing the consequences of his actions on that fateful day.

"Jacek was a much-loved member of his family and they are devastated by his death.

"This in no way lessens the pain of Jacek's family but I hope it will provide them with some solace that the person responsible for their loved one's death has been convicted."