Mysterious Footprints At Crime Scene
By Rol Ezam & Ignatius Stephen

Bandar Seri Begawan - Whose bloody footprints were they at the scene of the murder? One bloodied footprint was found in the victims' bedroom. The other, even more incriminating was in the garage.

They are yet another mystery that remains unsolved in what could be Brunei's worst murder incident in recent memory. None of the footprints were of the alleged suspect who is in the dock charged with the crime. The more suspicious print was the one in the garage. And it was not Richard Chia Kok Hiong's. Richard's is a size too large.

That print in the garage could have been that of the murderer, ASP Sabtu, the investigating officer told the court when Counsel Yousof Halim questioned him.

The footprint was left behind by the murderer or one of the murderers who had apparently dragged the dead man to the garage after he was fatally assaulted in his house.

The footprint in the bedroom had dried in the airconditioned room by the time the lawmen arrived.

Richard is denying all the charges. The mystery footprint was discovered just above the bloodied head of Maul bin Jambu, 44, who was repeatedly bashed to death with a hard object. His body was apparently dragged to the garage. There were bloody drag marks, the court heard.

His wife, 37-year-old Seniwati binte Untong, was found half naked, tortured and strangled elsewhere in the house and the two-year-old child, Neena Asmira, lay face down with her teddy bear by her side. She was suffocated with a pillow in the sitting room.

The prosecution is relying on circumstantial evidence and DNA experts' reports to prove their point. The defence has based its case on alibis and on the uncertainty of DNA tests and the manner the evidence at the scene was lifted. Richard was nowhere near the scene of crime, they allege.

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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