GEORGE TOWN: Police have confirmed that unrequited love was the motive behind the murder of a woman and her father by a man in front of the Bandar Baru apartment lift, Ayer Itam, last Thursday (Nov 7).
Acting Northeast District OCPD Supt Lee Swee Sake, stated that the investigation revealed the 32-year-old suspect had feelings for the 30-year-old victim.
"The suspect had known the victim since 2023 and developed feelings for her; however, she was not interested in him.
"Enraged by the rejection, the suspect reportedly threatened to kill the victim’s family at their residence before the incident," he told Astro Awani on Monday (Nov 11).
Meanwhile, when asked if the suspect tested positive for drugs, Swee Sake said they are still awaiting the blood test results.
Further checks revealed that the suspect has prior criminal and drug-related records.
In the incident on Thursday afternoon, Siti Zulaila and her father, Zulkifli Ibrahim, were fatally stabbed by the man at their apartment.
At the time, the victim, who had just returned from work, was attacked by the suspect, who also stabbed her father as he tried to intervene.
The suspect then slashed and stabbed himself several times before being rushed to Penang Hospital for further treatment.
The suspect has been remanded for seven days until Nov 14 (Thursday) to assist in the investigation under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
The bodies of the father and daughter were laid to rest together in a single grave at the Islamic Cemetery in Kariah Tanjong Tokong after Isyak prayers at around 10pm last Friday (Nov 8).
