Court Told Killer's Parting Gesture
By Rol Ezam & Ignatius Stephen

Bandar Seri Begawan - Someone had lovingly placed a small brown teddy bear on the pillow beside a mercilessly suffocated child as if in a heart-breaking last-minute parting gesture.

That was a scene described in the Brunei High Court during the triple murder case hearing, perhaps the most brutal in recent memory.

Little Neena Asmira, aged two, lay pitifully face down on the floor in the living room of the bungalow at Kampong Serusop in Jalan Muara in the capital's suburb in mid December two years ago.

The adopted child of a local couple who were also murdered, Neena's body displayed an adult hand print on her back indicating some force was applied to smother her with the pillow.

No evidence has so far been offered. Also, the act of placing the child's favourite toy teddy bear tenderly by her pillow also remains a mystery in a case that has only offered a multitude of puzzles. The tortured body of her foster mother was found nearby half naked and choked to death.

Thirty-seven-year-old Seniwati binte Untong had several brutal injuries all over her body and there were indications that she met with a slow and painful death.

The father, Maul Bin Jambu, 44, had apparently made an effort to get away but succumbed to the unrelenting blows to the head and elsewhere by the assailant or assailants.

Richard Chia Kok Hiong, 53, a car salesman and a neighbour, was arrested and charged with the murders soon after. Richard, held in police remand jail in Jerudong for the last two years, is denying all charges.

Chief Justice Dato Mohammad Saied and Justice Dato Steven Chong are hearing the case.

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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