Time Of Deaths Remains In Dispute
By Rol Izam & Ignatius Stephen

Bandar Seri Begawan - Maul bin Jambu suffered 49 injuries, his wife Seniwati Untong 25 injuries while their two-year-old adopted daughter Neena Azmira had three injuries.

The question asked in the Brunei High Court during the ongoing triple murder case was: When actually were these horrendous injuries inflicted on the three which caused their deaths?

Defence Counsel Yusof Halim posed this to the court in making his final submission before Chief Justice Dato Mohamed Saied and Justice Dato Steven Chong in the trial of car salesman Richard Chia Kok Hiong charged with the murders two years ago.

The three were found brutally murdered in their home in Kampong Serusop near the capital in mid December 2004. Richard, 53, a neighbour and family friend, arrested two months after the murders, is pleading not guilty to all the charges

Government Pathologist Dr Telesinghe's evidence in court was that all three victims had died between 36 and 48 hours from the time their bodies were examined at 2pm on 17.12.2004, the defence counsel stated.

That would make the time of deaths between 2pm on 15/12/2004 and 2am on 16/12/2004, the defence submitted. Counsel Yusof Halim said that the following had never been disputed by the defence:

(i) The deaths and identity of the three victims;

(ii) From the nature of injuries inflicted and without there being any other explanation, the person or persons committing these murders must have intended the deaths of the victims.

The matters in dispute are, he said: The date and time of deaths of the victims;

That the defendant had committed the assaults on the victims; and

The various stages of rigor mortis at the scene of the crime and the degree of putrefaction of the three victims at postmortem were also noted.

Prosecution is led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Haji Yusree and assisted by DPP Pengiran Nina Jasmine. Awang Yusof Halim and Siva Sankaran are defending. Hearing continues.  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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