Labourer acquitted of murdering single mother, her male friend
Judge Datuk Abu Bakar Katar made the ruling after finding that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against the accused, M. Jaykumar, 39, at the close of its case.
In his judgment, Abu Bakar said the prosecution had failed to prove that the deaths of K. Kamala, 51, and S. Silvaraja, 59, were caused by injuries inflicted by the accused.
He said the court also took into account that no traces of the victims' blood were found on the accused's clothes or belongings, and that the investigating officer did not seize these items to test for the victims' deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).
"The prosecution also failed to prove that the jewellery pawned by the accused belonged to Kamala, as her children could not confirm its ownership during testimony.
There is reasonable doubt since some jewellery was still found with Kamala," he said.
"The prosecution attempted to rely on the theory that the accused was the last person seen with the victims, setting the timeline between 7pm on Oct 31 and 3am on Nov 1.
"However, according to a witness, Kamala was still on the phone at 11.50pm.
"How could the prosecution fix 7pm as the starting time when the victim was still alive?
"This court finds that without other supporting evidence, it is insufficient to link the accused to the murders," the judge said.
M. Jaykumar was charged with the murders of K. Kamala and S. Silvaraja at a flat unit in Jalan Hang Jebat 14, Taman Ungku Aminah, between 7pm and 3am on Oct 31 and Nov 1, 2018.
The charge, framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code, carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction.
A total of 20 witnesses were called by the prosecution, led by deputy public prosecutor Juanita Mohd Said, while Jaykumar was represented by lawyers Datin Freda Sabapathy and K. Sarawanan.
– Bernama
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
2 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Woman jailed for stealing car parts from Sibu workshop
Junaidah was charged with two others who are still at large for stealing the blower fan from the front area of a workshop at Lorong Sukun 28B, Jalan Hulu Lanang, around 12.30pm on July 13, 2025. – Photo by Jane Moh SIBU (July 18): A 32-year-old woman was sentenced to one year in jail by the Magistrates' Court here today after pleading guilty to stealing a car blower fan from a vehicle workshop. Magistrate Romario Jonoi handed down the sentence to Junaidah Omar, with her jail term to begin from the date of conviction. Junaidah was charged with two others who are still at large for stealing the blower fan from the front area of a workshop at Lorong Sukun 28B, Jalan Hulu Lanang, around 12.30pm on July 13, 2025. She was charged under Section 379A of the Penal Code, read with Section 34, which carries a jail term of one to seven years and a fine upon conviction. According to the case facts, the workshop owner received a call from a friend who saw several people in a Proton Wira removing parts from a four-wheel drive vehicle parked at the shop. By the time the complainant arrived, the suspects had fled. He later found that headlamp wiring and other electronic components had been stolen. Four other nearby vehicles had also been broken into. The next day, around 12.30pm on July 14, police arrested Junaidah by the roadside along Jalan Tekam and seized a vehicle to assist in the investigation. Police later confirmed that the suspects had stolen the parts, allegedly intending to sell them. Inspector Kumareswaran Murugan prosecuted the case. Junaidah was not represented by a lawyer. car parts jail Sibu theft
Borneo Post
2 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Man jailed 18 months for assault over alleged phone theft
According to the facts of the case, the victim had gone to the house with two of his cousins to retrieve a mobile phone allegedly stolen by the accused. – Photo by Chimon Upon KUCHING (July 18): The Magistrates' Court here today sentenced a 25-year-old man to 18 months' imprisonment for assaulting an individual who had gone to retrieve his cousin's allegedly stolen mobile phone. Magistrate Ling Hui Chuan handed down the sentence on Mohd Bidawi Abdollah after he pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 324 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same Act. The Section provides a penalty of up to 10 years' imprisonment, a fine, whipping, or any combination of the three upon conviction. The incident occurred on February 9, 2025, at around 8pm in an unnumbered house at Kampung Sungai Nibong, Jalan Pasir Pandak, Santubong. According to the facts of the case, the victim had gone to the house with two of his cousins to retrieve a mobile phone allegedly stolen by the accused. While there, Mohd Bidawi and his two brothers attacked the victim using an axe, a motorcycle helmet, and a broken air rifle, causing the victim to lose consciousness. His cousins managed to flee and alerted the victim's younger brother. A police report was later lodged, leading to the arrest of Mohd Bidawi and his brothers. A medical report revealed the victim suffered lacerations to the occipital and frontal scalp, a scalp haematoma, bruises on the left shoulder, forearm, flank, and right chin, as well as abrasions on the lower left chest. Both of the victim's cousins were eyewitnesses to the assault. During a police lineup, they identified Mohd Bidawi as one of the attackers. They also confirmed that the helmet and broken air rifle used in the assault matched the weapons recovered from the scene. The prosecution was led by Inspector Nur Syafiqa Nyaie Ilin, while Mohd Bidawi was unrepresented. assault jail Kuching stolen phone
Borneo Post
2 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Four nabbed over Sarawak Energy's RM30,000 transformer theft in Beladin
Police apprehend the four suspects and managed to recover the transformer unit. KUCHING (July 18): Police have arrested four men in Beladin, Betong in connection with the theft of a transformer unit belonging to Sarawak Energy. Betong District Police Chief DSP Rejali Angong said the suspects, aged between 30 and 39, were apprehended at various locations around Beladin yesterday (July 17). 'Acting on intelligence, a team from Betong district police Criminal Investigation Division carried out a series of arrests between 12pm and 5.50pm at several locations around Beladin on July 17. 'As a result, four local male suspects aged between 30 and 39 were apprehended. Two of them were found to have prior records on drugs,' he said in a statement today. Rejali said the stolen transformer unit, worth approximately RM30,000, was also recovered during the operation. He added that two of the suspects have prior drug-related records. The transformer was reported missing on July 16 at about 8.56am from a site near the Tanjung Lilin ferry point in Beladin. All four suspects have been remanded starting today (July 18) to assist in investigations under Section 379 of the Penal Code, which provides for a jail term of up to seven years, a fine, or both upon conviction. arrest Beladin Sarawak Energy theft transformer
