Majen (back row fifth left in overcoat) and Mok (seventh left) with members of NGOs shout ‘Justice for Bill Kayong!’ and ‘Keadilan untuk Bill Kayong!’.
MIRI: The High Court here yesterday postponed the trial for the prime accused Mohamad Fitri Pauzi to ent er his defence on the charge of murdering social land activist Bill Kayong on June 21 last year.
High Court Judge Ravinthran N Paramaguru said the postponement was made pending the outcome of the appeal (in the Court of Appeal ) by Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) on the discharge and acquittal of the second, third and fourth accused persons.
Ravinthran fixed the Oct 18 hearing for mention of the case before the senior assistant registrar, where the DPP will update on the development on the hearing in the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya.
The three discharged and acquitted on June 6 were Mirians – businessman Datuk Stephen Lee Chee Kiang, 46, his personal assistant Chin Wui Ching, 51, and pub owner Lie Chang Loon, 38.
They were discharged and acquitted without hearing their defence after the trial failed to link them to the murder of Bill, while Fitri was called to enter his defence yesterday (Aug 18).
In court that sat for over eight minutes yesterday morning, DPP Mohd Fuad Abdul Aziz said investigation had been completed on the Notice of Alibi for Fitri.
Mohd Fitri, 30, a car repossessor from Jalan Dawai I of Pujut 4D Miri was first charged on July 17, 2016 together with three other accused. They were charged with abetting Mohd Fitri, an offence punishable under Section 109, read together with Section 302 of the Penal Code which carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.
Prime suspect Mohd Fitri was charged with murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code which provides for a mandatory death sentence. He had pleaded not guilty to killing PKR Miri secretary Bill who was actively involved in fighting for native land rights in the state.
Also known as Mohd Hasbie Abdullah, Bill was shot dead inside his 4WD vehicle at a traffic light intersection near E-mart supermarket in Tudan at 8.20am on June 21 last year.
During the trial, the prosecution represented by three deputy public prosecutors DPP Mohd Fuad Abdul Aziz, DPP Hayda Farizal Abu Hassan and DPP Wan Mohammad I’zzat Wan Abdullah called 28 prosecution witnesses, including investigating officer ASP Lee Chee Keat while defence counsel Ranbir Singh called only one – Mohd Fitri himself.
Other defence counsels were Orlando Chua, Arthur Lee and David Kuok while Majen Panyog, Simon Siah and Jeffery Mok Hui Chung held a watching brief for the family of the victim.
The hearing on the murder case yesterday continued to attract a large crowd mostly of members of NGOs championing rights on land issues. Also present were family members of Bill including his wife Hasykin Hatta.