The waitress at The Ballarat Curry House, Sonia Kumari, at a committal hearing at the Ballarat Magistrates Court has said the diner, Abdullah Siddiqi, was drunk, aggressive and had complained about food before he got into a fight with the chef and was killed.
Pakistani national Abdullah Siddiqqi was found dead with stab wounds at an Indian restaurant in Ballarat, Victoria in October 2016.
The 49-year-old Nepalese chef of the restaurant, Hari Prasad Dhakal has been charged with murder of Mr Siddiqi.
On Wednesday, Fairfax reports the Kumari told the Ballarat Magistrates Court that Siddiqi was drunk, aggressive and had complained about the food before he died at the restaurant.
Sonia Kumari, through a Hindi interpreter, told the court, she was worried and nervous and did not see the pair's altercation escalate.
She confirmed before the court that Mr Dhakal had said to Mr Siddiqi, "If you don't like the food don't worry about paying, just leave the restaurant".
"He also said, 'you can't stay here anymore'," Ms Kumari said.
She said Mr Siddiqi and his doctor wife had dined at the restaurant a couple of times before and described the chef, Mr Dhakal, as a nice person.
On Thursday, Mr Dhakal pleaded not guilty to murder and was committed to stand trial in the Supreme Court, Fairfax reports.
The restaurant owner Upender Bhan made a statement describing Dhakal as never rude or aggressive, a perfectionist who was proud of his food and was customer-focused.
"He was nice," Mr Bhan said.
A direction's hearing for Dhakal will be held at the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne on Friday morning.
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