Time Will Tell Suspect's Fate
By Rol Izam & Ignatius Stephen

Bandar Seri Begawan - Time will tell whether Richard Chia Kok Hiong, the 53-year-old car salesman accused of triple murder two years ago at Serusop near the Brunei capital will go to the gallows to face the hangman's noose.

Time is of the essence because defence lawyers Yusof Halim and Siva Sankaran are basing their case on the hour and the day of the death of the three victims.

If the three were still alive on December 16 then the charge against him that he killed them on December 15 would be false.

The defence is therefore adducing evidence that Richard was elsewhere at that time.

The defence is also trying to punch holes in the DNA evidence that the prosecution is basing its case.

The support the defence case a Malaysian born Australian expert witness Dr. Ong Beng Beng was produced in court. Dr Ong currently employed as a Specialist Forensic Pathologist at Queensland Health Scientific Services in Brisbane said that the victims died after 6 pm on December 16 2004.

The defence is submitting that this was in line with the evidence of three neighbours, Haji Jamil, Haliza and Solihun whose evidence seems to suggest that the victims were still alive on December 16.

The significance of this is that the victims were still alive on December 16, 2004, the defence maintans.

But Richard was charged with murdering the victim son December 15, 2004 and not on December 16, the defence lawyers argue.

Secondly and more importantly if the three victims were still alive on December 16 the evidence of Faridah binte Yahya who claimed to have seen Richard on December 15 at around 10 pm with his pants covered with what appeared to be blood is very suspect.

Meanwhile 70-year-old former customs official Teo Hoon @ Teo Ah Hoon who was subpoenaed at the airport on arrival from Manila last week testified that he was with Richard on the night of December 15 2004.

Richard accused of triple murder of the family during Christmas two years ago at Serusop near the capital will remain in remand jail where he was sent soon after the murder.

The murder victims were Maual bin Jambu, 44, his 37year-old school teacher wife and their adopted daughter Neena Asmira, aged two who smothered with a pillow. Her parents were beaten to death.

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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