New Delhi, March 31 (IANS): A court here on Tuesday sentenced a truck helper to life in prison for stabbing to death the driver after an altercation over having designs on the driver's wife.

Additional Sessions Judge Manoj Jain awarded life imprisonment to 38-year-old Vishal Kumar, after holding him guilty of murder.

According to the prosecution, Kumar - a drug addict - attacked truck driver Madan Lal Soni on March 26, 2013 with a knife after a altercation took place between them over Kumar having designs on Soni's wife.

Soni was rushed to a hospital where he succumbed to severe injuries in his abdomen area.

A case was registered against Kumar at the Aman Vihar police station in west Delhi and he was arrested on March 28, 2013.

Kumar worked as a helper in the truck driven by Soni.

Observing that the prosecution was able to prove its case beyond a shadow of doubt, the court said: "It stands proved that the accused murdered Soni."

"He gave knife blows on vital parts of his body, which is clearly indicative of his intention to eliminate Soni. There is no material suggesting that his act was on the basis of any grave and sudden provocation. His act reflects pre-meditation," it said.

The court also slapped a fine of Rs.20,000 on Kumar and ordered that the amount should be paid to the widow.