SIBU: The 28th prosecution witness told the High Court yesterday that he received a phone call on July 5 last year from the neighbour staying opposite his late sister, Ling Yung Ming, informing him that there were a lot of policemen at the house.
Self-employed Ling Tong Ying, 50, in the examination-in-chief by Senior Federal Counsel (SFC) Yaakub Chik, said he then proceeded to the house and arrived between 10am and 11am.
He said when the police did not allow him, Vincent (son of the accused) and the neighbour to enter the house he asked Vincent what actually had happened.
“He replied that his father killed people,” Tong Ying said in his testimony at the trial of Jacob Tiang Lee Yee, 44, who is facing three charges under Section 302 of the Penal Code for causing the death of his wife Ling Yung Ming, daughter Christine Tiang Soon Ai and son Victor Tiang Soon Sheng between 6.20am and 9.50am on July 5 last year at their house in Pulau Li Hua.
Tiang is also charged under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempting to cause the death of another son Vincent Tiang Soon Thai at the same place, time and day.
Also, he is also charged under Section 309 of the Penal Code for his attempt suicide at the same place, time and day.
To another question from Yaakub, Tong Ying said Vincent did tell him the people killed by his father were his mother, sister and brother.
After that, he said an ambulance arrived at the house and upon enquiry later he was told that all of them had died.
He said on July 8 last year, he was asked to identify the body of Yung Ming, Christine and Victor at the mortuary of Sibu Hospital.
SFC: Did you at any time after July 5, 2013 receive a piece of yellow paper from Ling Yii Choo.
Tong Ying: Yes.
SFC: Who is Ling Yii Choo? Tong Ying: My younger sister.
SFC: When you met Vincent in the morning of July 5, 2013 in front of neighbour’s house, what was the condition of Vincent at that time? Tong Ying: I do not know how to tell.
SFC: Was he in normal condition? Tong Ying: He looked downcast as if something had happened.
Upon cross-examination by defence counsel Ben Lau, Tong Ying said he reached the house before the ambulance arrived.
To a question, he said the police did not talk to him when he arrived at the house.
On the reason for not entering the house to see the condition of the house, he said what he meant was that the moment he arrived he was told by the police that he could not enter, and after that he did not talk to any police personnel until an ambulance came.
To another question, Tong Ying said the female neighbour was standing in front of her own house when the ambulance arrived.
DC: When Vincent told you that the father killed people as you alleged, was the female neighbour present with the two of you? Tong Ying: Yes.
DC: Basically, do you agree with me the female neighbour also heard what Vincent told you about his father killing people? Tong Ying: Yes.
DC: Did you go into your late sister’s house after July 5, 2013? Tong Ying: Yes, only after we were permitted to enter the house by the police.
DC: Do you remember when it was? Tong Ying: I can’t remember. If I am not mistaken it was a day before the funeral.
Hearing before Judge Supang Lian resumes today (Aug 20).