A takeaway boss killed his “great friend” and colleague in a furious row over tandoori chicken.
Hidayet Ozden lashed out at Shahzad Shah with the handle of a frying pan during an argument over a customer’s order.
He also pushed and repeatedly punched Mr Shah after he asked whether the spiced meat was to be on the bone and if they should call the customer to clarify.
Mr Shah, who had an undiagnosed heart condition, was left slumped on the floor after the attack at Mirchi Indian Cuisine in Mintlaw on April 11 this year.
At the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday, 53-year-old Ozden admitted killing his friend. He had originally been charged with murder, but the Crown accepted the lower charge of culpable homicide.
Last night Mr Shah’s grieving widow – and mother of his two children – said she was struggling to come to terms with the tragedy, and that Ozden’s admission will “achieve nothing” for the family.
She said: “I am still in shock over my husband’s death, and I sometimes still expect to see him come home to us.
“He worked for everything we had and we just do not know how we will cope without him.”
Ozden’s defence counsel, Ian Duguid QC, said it was a “very sad situation” and that Mr Shah’s heart simply could not take what happened.
The court heard there had been simmering tension between the pair with accusations by each that the other was not working hard enough.
Advocate depute David Taylor said the men had worked together at various takeaways before moving to the north-east to start working in Mintlaw.
“They have been described by witnesses as being very friendly towards each other and great friends,” he said.
“However, there does also appear to have been a background of tension between the two in the time leading up to the events.”
Ozden had hoped that the chef would open a new takeaway with him, but talented curry chef Mr Shah decided not to get involved and was planning his own venture in Kirkcaldy.
On the day of the killing, Ozden had taken an order over the phone, which included tandoori chicken. Mr Shah had asked whether it was to be on or off the bone.
Mr Taylor told the court: “Ozden said it made no difference. The deceased however told the accused 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.”
Another colleague stepped in to break up the row – which was caught on camera, and played in court yesterday – and Ozden, of Gairdoch Street, Falkirk, stormed out of the kitchen.
But he returned seconds later, by which time Mr Shah was standing at the hob with a frying pain. Ozden pushed him again, twice.
He then left and came back again, this time slapping Mr Shah – who picked up the pot and hit Ozden with it so hard the handle came off.
Ozden punched his victim and snatched the pot handle from him, hitting him on the head and body with it. He also grabbed the cook by the neck and pushed him against a wall.
Ozden was told to leave, but returned a minute or so later and renewed his attack on his victim, who the court heard was left unconscious and looking lifeless.
Staff tried to help the chef – with even Ozden attempting mouth-to-mouth resuscitation – but he could not be saved.
Mr Taylor said Mr Shah was subsequently discovered to have “significant coronary heart disease” with could explain his sudden collapse.
Defence counsel Mr Duguid said Ozden was “very remorseful about what took place and very sorry for the death of his friend”.
“It is a very sad situation,” he added.
He said the argument had arisen between the friends “over something as insignificant as a food order”.
But Mr Duguid said what appeared to lie behind their disagreement was Mr Shah’s ill-health, which had left Ozden complaining he was not pulling his weight on the job.
He said the victim had suffered at least one significant heart attack but was not receiving heart medication.
Judge Graham Buchanan QC deferred sentence on Ozden for the preparation of a background report, and his bail was continued.
