Manslaughter: Six to know their fate on Nov 11

0

KUCHING: Six persons, who should have been sentenced yesterday for manslaughter, have to wait until Nov 11 to know their fate.

High Court Judicial Commissioner Ravinthran N Paramaguru adjourned the case when a Welfare Department officer suggested that the third accused be referred to a psychiatrist.

The defence counsels also have yet to receive the social reports on the accused.

Ravinthran also reserved the next session for tendering the medical report on the third accused and then sentencing.

The accused Ngalai Renggi, 20; Ngelai Sebli, 20; Abdul Maliq-Jaabar Perwira, 22; Ezwandi Mohd Fauzi; and an 18-year-old boy admitted during trial on Sept 29 that they murdered a 20-year-old coffeeshop worker from Lundu, Haulden Sambau.

Three of the accused were underage when they committed the crime.

They admitted to committing the offence between 1am and 2am on the five-foot way of a shop at Ban Hock road here on Oct 3 last year.

Prior to the murder, there was a clash between two groups of youths, known to each other, over a misunderstanding.

The clash started at a coffeeshop by Ban Hock road.

After the fight, the accused were arrested at several locations in the city including at the Sarawak General Hospital when they went to visit one of their injured friends.

Initially they were charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code (read together with Section 34 of the same code) which provides for the death sentence.

However, the charge was later change to one under Section 304(B) of the same code.

All the accused pleaded guilty to the amended charge which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and possible fine.

Ravinthran ordered them to be further placed in police custody pending the passing of judgement.

Counsels Ateng Jeros, Abdul Rahman Mohd Hazmi, Ani Solep, Wit Malang and Patrick Anek Uren defended the accused. DPP Poh Yih Tinn prosecuted.