Sibu man sent to the gallows for murder

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SIBU: A 41-year-old man who was found guilty of murdering a woman four years ago was yesterday sent to the gallows.

SENTENCED TO DEATH: Tiong being led out of court after the sentencing.

SENTENCED TO DEATH: Tiong being led out of court after the sentencing.

High Court judge Datuk Albert Linton handed down the sentence after the prosecution succeeded in proving the man’s guilt beyond any reasonable doubt.

In giving the sentence, the judge said Tiong Ing Soon mercilessly killed the 24-year-old by stabbing her chest repeatedly even after she had fallen.

“Through direct and circumstantial evidence from eye witnesses adduced by the prosecution, the court found that the accused did commit murder by intentionally causing the death of Soon Pek Lian.

“You have thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

“For the offence, the court ordered the accused to be hanged by the neck until his death,” said Linton when reading out the judgment.

Tiong committed the offence on Aug 25, 2006 at 7.30pm at Lembangan Lane in Central Road.

He killed the deceased and injured her friend and her (the friend’s) daughter using a knife that he had just bought from a nearby supermarket.

In his trial, Tiong told the court that at the material time he was having a headache and was not feeling well.

He said he had been hearing voices for a few days and was not conscious enough to know what he was doing when the killing took place.

He also said he was on medication to stay stable.

The court also heard from a witness, Hii Siik Ling, that prior to the killing she and her 10-year-old daughter were riding pillion behind Soon.

They stopped in front of a Toto shop near Daesim Supermarket to remove a plastic paper that was stuck to the front tyre of their bike.

Hii told the court that it was there that Tiong approached and without a word stabbed Soon.

“He then pulled the motorcycle down, causing  Soon  and my daughter to fall.

“Tiong kept attacking Soon with a knife without mercy,” she said.

She said when she pulled the accused by the shirt from behind and shouted for help, he turned around and attacked her and her daughter.

Mother and daughter were said to have sustained  hand and calf injuries for  which they were treated at a medical centre.

For this, Tiong was charged with using a dangerous weapon to voluntarily cause grievous hurt.

This charge was under Section 326 of the Penal Code.

A pathologist report confirmed that Soon died due to chest injuries.

A total of 19 prosecution witnesses were called to testify, while the defence only produced one witness — the accused himself.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Nisla Abdul Latif prosecuted while the accused was represented by defence counsel Louis Jarau.