MALAYSIA. MAN SETENCED TO HANG FOR MURDER, TWO FRIENDS FREED

September 21, 2008: the High Court of Malaysia sentenced a self-employed man to hang after finding him guilty of murdering a blacksmith, but freed two of his friends of the same charge.
Justice Datuk Wan Adenan Muhamad said the court did not have any option except sending Khairul Anuar Zakaria, 48, to the gallows as he had failed to cast reasonable doubts to the prosecution's case.
Khairul was convicted of murdering Chuah Leng Hai, 38, at the backroom of house No. 46, Taman Datuk Kumbar, between 5am and 6.35am on June 4, 2001.
The judge said: "According to the first accused's testimony, the second accused (Ariffin Ahmad, 47) and third accused (Muhammad Zaidi Mohd Salleh, 42), were not involved because they were asleep during the incident so there is reasonable doubt and they are acquitted and discharged."
The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Murtazadi Amran while G. Ravishankar represented Khairul and Burhanudeen Abdul Wahid for Ariffin and Azidi.
Before the sentencing, Khairul told the court that he did not intend to kill Chuah and was merely defending himself. He also apologised to Chuah's family. (Sources: Bernama Daily Malaysian News, 21/09/2008)