Death sentence upheld for guard who killed Deputy Director
Published on: Thursday, May 19, 2016
Putra Jaya: The Court of Appeal here Wednesday upheld the death sentence of a former security guard for the murder of Perak Veterinary Services Department deputy director almost five years ago.A three-man bench chaired by Justice Datuk Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat unanimously dismissed Syahmie Hassan's appeal to set aside his conviction and death sentence.The 25-year-old was found guilty and sentenced to death by the Ipoh High Court on July 31, last year for killing Dr Rohani Kasim, 38, at her apartment in Persiaran Lembah Perpaduan, Permai Lake View in Ulu Kinta, Perak between 6pm and 7.30pm on Aug 3, 2011.ADVERTISEMENT Evidence revealed that Syahmie had broken into Dr Rohani's apartment with intention to rob her. He had waited for her to return home after failing to find any valuables.In a struggle, Dr Rohani bit the assailant's finger but he pushed her away causing her to fall and knock her head on a table.Realising she was still alive, he proceeded to strangle the deceased using curtain cloth until she stopped breathing. The accused also copulated with the deceased after she had died.ADVERTISEMENT Syahmie, who was wearing white and red prison clothes, looked calm when the court delivered the decision.In her decision, Justice Tengku Maimun said there was no appealable error by the High Court judge in the findings and that the Court of Appeal's intervention was not warranted.
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Also presiding on the panel were Justices Datuk Ahmadi Asnawi and Datuk Kamardin Hashim.Earlier Syahmie's counsel Rafael Abdullah submitted that his client was a sick man suffering from bipolar disorder and he should not have been found guilty for murder instead should be detained at the pleasure of the Sultan of Perak by reason of insanity.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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Rafael said Syahmie was receiving medical treatment a year before the incident.Deputy Public Prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin however, urged the court to uphold his conviction adding that his conduct of copulating with the deceased after she died was because he had a high sex drive and not because he was mentally insane.-Bernama