PUTRAJAYA: The Taiping High Court has ordered a young man and woman to be detained at the pleasure of the Sultan of Perak for the murder of the woman’s brother.
Justice Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin found them guilty of murdering the woman’s 17-year-old brother, identified as SM, at a house in Kamunting, Perak, between 3pm and 6pm on July 5, 2019.
However, she said that since they were minors at the time of the offence, the court ordered them to be detained at the pleasure of the Ruler of Perak as provided under Section 97(2) of the Child Act 2001.
The boy was 15 while the girl was 14 when they committed the offence. They are now 22 and 21 respectively.
In her grounds of judgment, Justice Noor Ruwena said the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. She described both accused as intelligent and aware of their actions.
“The male accused could not get anyone to drive a car to dispose of the body. They just left it near the crime scene after making some effort to cover the body so it would not be discovered immediately,” she said.
She said there were pre-meditated acts, with preparations made by the perpetrators to attack and incapacitate the victim before delivering the fatal blow.
“The deceased bled to a slow death as the fatal injuries did not cut the main artery. I cannot imagine the pain, despair and helplessness that he must have felt,” she said.
Given the serious nature of the accused’s acts, she said she would not have hesitated to pass the death sentence upon them if they had been adults when the crime was committed.
Justice Noor Ruwena said the court must show its abhorrence at such a grave and vicious crime.
During the trial, the court was told that the victim died of excessive bleeding from a stab wound on his neck.
Both accused have filed their respective notices of appeal to the Court of Appeal against the High Court’s decision.
