Sub-contractor gets death for murdering younger brother in property dispute

SHAH ALAM: An air-conditioning sub-contractor who murdered his younger brother over a property row two years ago was sentenced to death by the High Court here.

Judge Datuk Zulkifli Bakar meted out the sentence on M. Nageswaran, 41, after finding that the defence failed to raise reasonable doubt on the charge at the end of the trial.

According to the charge sheet, Nageswaran, from Jalan Kota Raja in Klang, was charged with killing 37-year-old Gunalan at a house in Kampung Jawa at about 5.30pm on May 5, 2015.

The offence under Section 302 of the Penal Code provides for death penalty upon conviction.

In his judgment Friday, Judge Zulkifli said that Nageswaran’s defence was a mere denial, which also accused the deceased’s wife as the killer or the person who caused death.

By taking into consideration all aspects of findings, he said the court found that the accused’s defence was coated with afterthoughts that could not be accepted.

“Therefore, the court found that the prosecution had succeeded in proving the case beyond reasonable doubt, and found the accused guilty as charged.

“You are hereby sentenced to death under Section 302 of the Penal Code,” he said.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Fairuz Johari prosecuted while Nageswaran was represented by counsel S. Ravichandran.

A total of 15 prosecution witnesses and one defence witness testified throughout the trial.

Gunalan’s wife, who did not wish to be name, lauded the judgment.