TAWAU: The 13 teenagers implicated in the murder of a Vocational College’s student in Lahad Datu last March pleaded not guilty in the Tawau High Court, Tuesday.
All nodded they understand and pleaded not guilty to the charge read by the court interpreter before Judge Datuk Duncan Sikodol.
The 13 accused, aged between 16 and 19, were jointly charged with murdering Mohamad Nazmie Aizzat Mohd Narul Narul Azwan, 17, at Bilik Asrama 7 Resak and 5 Belian of Lahad Datu Vocational College at 9pm on March 21 until 7.38am on March 22, 2024.
The court then fixed a 10-day trial date from Nov 18-22 and Nov 25-29 2024.
All of them were charged under Section 302 of the penal code which carries the death sentence, if convicted.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Suhaimi Suriana and DPP Hurman Hussain, who appeared for the prosecution told the court that the prosecution would call 12 witnesses to testify during the trial.
Nine of the 13 teenagers were represented by Kamarudin Mohmad Chinki, Datuk Ram Singh, Amirul Amin Rashid and Chen Wen Jye while Abdul Ghani Zelika represented one.
The remaining three were unrepresented.
On April 2, the 13 students were charged at the Lahad Datu Magistrate’s Court with the murder of Mohamad Nazmie and the case was transferred to the High Court Tuesday.
On June 13, the same court denied the bail application of seven teenagers pending the next case hearing.
Judge Duncan ruled that there were no special circumstances justifying the granting of bail in this case.
He said the application was premature since the case had not been transferred to the High Court yet, where the applicants would have the opportunity to file their application.
All the accused who came from Kota Marudu, Pitas, Lahad Datu and Kota Belud, among others, would be detained at Tawau Prison prior to the full trial date.
