Vocational student murder case: Judge warned the families of the defendants for allegedly threatening the witness

TAWAU, Nov 28 — High Court Judge Datuk Duncan Sikodol yesterday warned the families of the 13 students accused of the murder of the Koleji Vokasional Lahad Datu student in March not to intimidate or threaten witnesses attending the trial.

Duncan stated that he received reports that witnesses were threatened and emphasized that such actions are a serious crime.

“If this (report) reaches the court again, I will issue an order banning any of the families from attending the hearing or coming to Tawau during the hearing. “Please inform your relatives outside,” he said.

Earlier, before the hearings began, deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Nur Nisla Abd Latif had requested the court to warn the families of the defendants about the disturbances as there were reports of harassment of prosecution witnesses and the preparation of the police report. filed.

The 13 students, aged between 16 and 19, are jointly accused of the murder of 17-year-old Mohamad Nazmie Aizzat Mohd Narul Azwan at Dormitory Room 7 7 Resak and 5 Belian at the College Vokasional Lahad Datu between 9pm and 7.38am on March 21. March 22.

They were charged under Article 302 of the Penal Code and Article 34 of the same law, which provides for the death penalty or imprisonment from 30 to 40 years and up to 12 strokes of the cane upon conviction.

Meanwhile, during the hearing, the prosecution’s third witness, Mohammad Zul Amree Hamzah, assistant medical officer at Lahad Datu Hospital, testified that Mohamad Nazmie Aizzat was believed to have died one to two hours before he was pronounced dead at 7.38am on March 22.

He said he examined the victim and administered Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for approximately 15 to 20 minutes after arriving at the scene.

He also used an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to detect and stabilize his heart rhythm, but the machine confirmed there were no signs of life.

During the re-examination by Nur Nisla, he said, “Based on my experience in death detection, I estimate that the victim died approximately one to two hours ago.”

Earlier, Mohammad Zul Amree testified in his witness statement that his colleague received a MERS 999 call at 7.02am on March 22 from hostel warden Muhammad Nuhrullah Aminuddin, the prosecution’s second witness. The call reported that the victim was unconscious and not breathing.

“Muhammad Nuhrullah said that they were trying to give respiratory aid. “After this, me and my team left for the college at 7.05am and reached there at 7.20am,” he said, adding that the victim had visible injuries on his lips.

When asked at the examination-in-chief for the recommended duration of CPR before confirming death, Mohammad Zul Amree explained that chest compressions and respiratory assistance should be provided for 30 minutes as per the 2022 Basic Life Support guidelines.

He also agreed with defense lawyer Mohamed Zairi Zainal Abidin’s suggestion that the victim could have survived if he was transported to the hospital within an hour and a half.

The prosecution team is led by Nur Nisla and supported by DPPs Ng Juhn Tao and Nur Batrisyia Mohd Khusri.

Eight of the 13 accused youths are represented by lawyers Datuk Ram Singh, Kamarudin Mohmad Chinki and Chen Wen Jye. The remaining five are defended by Mohamed Zairi, Abdul Ghani Zelika, Vivian Thien, Jhassany P. Kang and Kusni Ambotuwo.

The hearing will continue this afternoon. — Bernama