Student convicted of double murder

SINGAPOREAN student Ram Puneet Tiwary has been convicted of murdering his two flatmates with a baseball bat by a Sydney court.  

After a long drawn-out investigation and trial, it took the 12 jurors five days to agree unanimously that Tiwary, 27, battered and stabbed Tony Tan Poh Chuan and Tay Chow Lyang to death on Sept 15, 2003.  

The three men shared an apartment near the University of New South Wales where they were all studying then.  

Tiwary remained calm and composed as one of the jury members read out their decision yesterday.  

His parents, who were in court, appeared dazed and held each other's hands until their son was led out of the dock. His older brother, Rohit, gripped the bench he was sitting on tightly.  

Tiwary did not even glance at his family while he was escorted out.  

Tiwary will be sentenced on July 7. He faces up to a double life imprisonment, which even if he is granted parole, could mean at least 40 years behind bars.  

The families of the two victims, both 26, were pleased with the verdict.  

In court testimony, Tiwary said he woke up in his apartment on the day of the murders and heard a commotion, but was too afraid to investigate.  

He claimed he slept through it all, and when he finally mustered up the courage to do so, he peeked outside to find both his friends dead in the flat.  

He denied owing Tay A$5,045 (RM13,671) rent, which the prosecution claims was the motive for the slayings. 

Prosecutors said Tiwary – who owed one of the victims A$5,000 (RM13,549) – had bought a baseball bat two days before the men were killed. – The Straits Times / Asia News Network