IPOH: The trial of a senior police officer charged with the murder of a secondary school student last year has been postponed to Tuesday (Nov 5) after his lawyers withdrew themselves from representing him in the case.
Defence counsel M. Athimulan told High Court judge Datuk Bhupindar Singh Gurcharan Singh Preet that his team was officially appointed today by the accused Deputy Supt Mohd Nazri Abdul Razak.
“We have only taken over the matter this morning (Nov 4), and we have been handed over 30 witness statements, and a bundle of documents that we need to go through.
“We therefore need more time,” he told the court today.
The prosecution led by deputy public prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz told the court that he was informed about the change of the defence team today as well.
“I was told the accused has appointed new lawyers, and the new set of counsel will be applying for a postponement.
“The prosecution has no objection to the postponement,” he added.
Justice Bhupindar Singh then allowed the application for the postponement.
“I will postpone the sitting for today only, and the trial will continue tomorrow (Nov 5),” he said.
The prosecution team consists of Nasrul Hadi Abdul Ghani, V. Suloshani, and Low Qin Hui while the defence team consists of Datuk Mior Faridalathrash Wahid, and Aiman Hakim Kamaruzzaman.
Also present was lawyer Datuk Wan Azmir Wan Majid who is holding a watching brief on behalf of the victim’s family.
Previously, Mohd Nazri was represented by counsel Jacky Loi Yap Loong.
When met outside the courtroom, Athimulan said he was not aware of the reason the previous lawyers were discharged.
He said it was the accused’s constitutional right to appoint new counsels.
“We have been engaged, so the previous lawyers have been discharged,” he said.
He said there were a lot of documents that they need to go through, with 30 witness statements, and additional documents.
“So we need to go through (documents), and take instructions, and prepare for tomorrow.
“That is why we asked for adjournment to tomorrow morning for the trial to start,” he said.
Mohd Nazri is accused of murdering 17-year-old Muhammad Zaharif Affendi Muhd Zamrie at Jalan Taman Jati near SMK Jati on Dec 15 last year between 12.05pm and 12.40pm.
Mohd Nazri was first charged at the Magistrate’s Court here on Dec 18 last year.
The prosecution had earlier this year requested for the case to be transferred to the High Court.
On May 14, Justice Bhupindar had also set over 30 days starting in Nov for the murder trial to begin. The dates are from Nov 4 to 8, Nov 11 to 15, Dec 2 to 6, Dec 9 to 13 this year and Jan 6 to 10, Jan 13 to 17 next year.
