08-07-2025
Nhaveen murder trial delayed pending Federal Court decision
Published on: Tuesday, July 08, 2025
Published on: Tue, Jul 08, 2025
By: Predeep Nambiar, FMT Text Size: J Ragesuthan, S Gokulan, and two others who were juveniles at the time, are on trial for the murder of T Nhaveen in Bukit Gelugor, Penang, in June 2017. GEORGE TOWN: The trial of four men accused of murdering teenager T Nhaveen has been adjourned, with the High Court setting new dates in November to hear their defence. The trial had been scheduled to run from today until Friday, following a Court of Appeal ruling in January ordering the accused to enter their defence. Deputy public prosecutor Yazid Mustaqim Roslan told the court that the prosecution was still waiting for the Federal Court to decide on its appeal against the acquittal of a fifth man, S Gopinaath, 34. 'We ask for the trial to be postponed to a later date while we await the judgment of the Federal Court,' he said. Justice Radzi Abdul Hamid allowed the request, saying it was necessary given the circumstances. 'We have to wait for the Federal Court case, or else there will be duplicity of the trial,' he said. He also fixed Nov 17 to Nov 21 for continuation of the trial, and set Sept 21 for case management, to be held online, pending the disposal of the Federal Court appeal. Deputy public prosecutor Amril Johari also appeared for the prosecution. Four accused – J Ragesuthan, S Gokulan, and two others who were juveniles at the time – were initially charged with murdering 18-year-old Nhaveen at a park in Bukit Gelugor, Penang, on June 9, 2017. In October 2023, they were acquitted by the High Court, but on appeal, the Court of Appeal ruled that there was a prima facie case against them, and ordered that they enter their defence. Also acquitted was Gopinaath, who was charged in 2021 while the trial was ongoing, after evidence allegedly incriminating him in the murder was tendered in court. Gopinaath's acquittal was upheld by the Court of Appeal, leading to the prosecution's appeal to the Federal Court. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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