SIBU: The High Court yesterday sent an unemployed youth to the gallows after convicting him of murdering another youth with a knife two years ago.
FOUND GUILTY: Wong (left) talks to Ajut outside the courtroom after he was sentenced.
Ajut Rosely was calm when Justice Yew Jen Kie passed the sentence.
In her judgment, she pointed out that based on the evidence adduced during the trial and, after hearing the defence, she could not believe the accused’s story.
The defence had failed to cast reasonable doubt on the prosecution case, she added.
On Nov 15, Ajut was ordered to enter his defence and he preferred to make his defence on sworn evidence in the witness box.
Prior to the trial, Senior Federal Counsel Yaacub Chik told the court that the accused was charged for murdering Jimi Junaidi, an Indonesian, in a lodging house in Kapit between 6.30pm and 8.30pm on July 10, 2008.
The prosecution would adduce from direct and circumstantial evidence that on that fateful day, after a tattooing session at Leonard Gawai’s house and a drinking session in town, Jimi had invited Ajut, Leonard and Raymond Well to his hotel room.
In the room, Ajut lay down beside Jimi on a bed before taking out a knife and slashed Jimi on the neck, chest and stomach.
The last stab caused the handle of the knife to come off while the blade was embedded in the left side of Jimi’s chest.
Not satisfied with that, Ajut smashed a bottle on Jimi’s head and poked Jimi’s body with broken pieces from the bottle.
A total of 19 prosecution witnesses were called to testify against Ajut who was represented by defence counsel Jacob Wong.