SHAH ALAM: The fourth accused in the murder case of Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya and three other individuals denied in the High Court here yesterday of harbouring vengeance towards the first accused, N Pathmanabhan.
R Kathavarayan, 32, disagreed with Pathmanabhan’s counsel Manjeet Singh Dhillon’s suggestion that he was vengeful because his (Kathavarayan)’s wife and children had been asked by his client to move out of his (Pathmanabhan’s) bungalow in Sepang.
The fourth defence witness countered that he had asked his wife to move out of the house about six months ago.
When counsel put to him that Pathmanabhan in mid-November last year had said to him that he wanted to claim back the bungalow and expected the family to move out, the fourth accused replied that Pathmanabhan did not say such a thing.
Kathavarayan also disagreed with Manjeet Singh’s suggestion that he used the second accused T Thilaiyalagan to try persuade Pathmanabhan not to ask his family to move out of the bungalow.
“I put to you that your wife is still staying in the bungalow with your children,” suggested Manjeet Singh, to which the accused replied: “I don’t know, I have not contacted her.”
“I put to you, you asked Pathmanabhan for money to buy a house so that your family could move in,” suggested Manjeet Singh, to which the accused disagreed.
“Pathmanabhan turned you down, he said no. You then threatened him that you would sort him out in court,” suggested Manjeet Singh, to which Kathavarayan also disagreed.
“I put it to you that you tried to change your story (in court) because of your vengeance, because of the incident in jail between you and Pathmanabhan and because Thilaiyalagan refused to help you,” suggested Manjeet Singh, to which the accused continued to disagree.
“I put it to you that you are a manipulator, you are a person that can change situations to benefit yourself,” Manjeet Singh suggested, which received another negative reply.
Kathavarayan was ordered to enter his defence jointly with Pathmanabhan, 43, Thilaiyalagan, 21, and R Matan, 22, for allegedly murdering Sosilawati, 47, bank officer Noorhisham Mohamad, 38, lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim, 32, and Sosilawati’s driver, Kamaruddin Shamsuddin, 44.
They are accused of committing the offence at Ladang Gadong, Lot 2001 in Jalan Tanjong Layang, Tanjung Sepat, Banting between 8.30pm and 9.45pm on Aug 30, 2010.
Kathavarayan when questioned by Manjeet Singh on the police report he made on Dec 3 last year, said it was because he feared for the safety of his wife and children.
“Who are you afraid of? Who do you think will harm your family,” asked Manjeet Singh and the accused replied, “Pathmanabhan”.
“You fear for their safety and yet they are still staying in Pathmanabhan’s house.
“Your report is rubbish, it is a fabricated report,” suggested Manjeet Singh, to which Kathavarayan disagreed.
At one point Kathavarayan appeared weak and uncomfortable after being questioned relentlessly, but when asked whether he wanted to have a break, he replied that he wished to continue with his testimony.
Manjeet Singh chided him, saying: “I put to you, you are a drama king, not even a queen.
“You wanted to gain sympathy from the court, you fake (sickness) for sympathy.”
“I am under medication,” replied Kathavarayan.
Manjeet Singh then went on to suggest to the accused that his sister was at the farm on Aug 30, 2010.
(In an earlier testimony, Kathavarayan said his sister and his family had come to the farm on Aug 30, 2010).
“No, that’s a lie. That was coached to me by the counsel who represented me before this,” said the accused.
“Who was your lawyer?” asked Manjeet Singh, and Kathavarayan replied: “Ravi Nekoo.”
The trial continues today before Justice Datuk Akhtar Tahir. — Bernama