Indian restaurant manager punched a chef to death in row over how to cook tandoori chicken

A RESTAURANT manager killed a chef in their workplace after a row erupted over a takeaway order for tandoori chicken, a court has heard.

Hidayet Ozden, 53, of Falkirk, Scotland, repeatedly punched dad-of-three Shahzad Ali Shah, 56, after the chef questioned whether the spiced meat was to be on the bone or not.

First offender Ozden admitted culpable homicide after Mr Shah died in April.

The High Court in Edinburgh was told that there had been "simmering tension" between the two colleagues with accusations by each that the other was not working hard enough.

The attack was caught on camera at the Mirchi Indian Cuisine restaurant, in The Square, Mintlaw, in Aberdeenshire, which was shown to a judge.

On the day of the killing Ozden had taken an order over the phone, which included tandoori chicken.

Chef Mr Shah queried whether the spiced meat was to be on the bone or not, and told Ozden they needed to call the customer.

After the attack, efforts were made to summon help for the victim and Ozden also went to his aid assisting with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Ozden was originally charged with murder, but admitted culpable homicide.

The court heard Mr Shah was suffering from a serious undiagnosed heart condition at the time of the attack.

Mr Taylor said of the order dispute: "The accused said that it made no difference. The deceased however told the accused that they needed to contact the customer to check what the correct order was. The accused then stated 'what's your problem' and an argument began between the two men."

Ozden had hoped that the chef would open a new takeaway with him, but Mr Shah decided not to get involved and was planning his own venture in Kirkcaldy.

Advocate depute David Taylor said the men had worked together at various takeaways before moving to take up posts at the Mintlaw restaurant.

"They have been described by witnesses as being very friendly towards each other and great friends," said the prosecutor.

He added: "However, there does also appear to have been a background of tension between the two in the time leading up to the events.

Ozden told a police officer that he had been involved in an argument with the dead man who had struck him with a frying pan after a row about a food order.

Defence counsel Ian Duguid QC said Ozden was "very remorseful about what took place and very sorry for the death of his friend".

He told the court that Mr Shah's heart simply could not cope with what had occurred.
"It is a very sad situation," he added.

Mr Duguid said: "They had been friends for a number of years and the accused was instrumental in getting the deceased his job."

He said the argument had arisen between the friends "over something as insignificant as a food order".

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