Banting murders 'SOCIAL POLITICAL'? Accused wants to TELL ALL

SHAH ALAM- More drama unfolded in the Banting murder trial when the High Court was told that one of the accused had lodged a police report fearing for his family’s safety.

DPP Ishak Mohd Yusoff told judge Datuk Akhtar Tahir that the report was lodged by R. Kathavarayan.

It was learnt that the report was lodged on Monday afternoon at the Shah Alam police headquarters, claiming that he wanted to ‘tell-all’ during court proceedings today and that as a result his family and his safety might be at stake.

Ishak informed the court about Kathavarayan’s report after counsel Manjeet Singh Dhillon, who was representing accused N. Pathmanabhan, raised the issue of a sudden heavy presence of police personnel.

At the beginning of proceedings, Manjeet said there was a huge presence of police officers outside the courtroom, giving the impression that the trial had become a “special trial”.

“Why is there a high security today? Why is this normal murder case being changed into a social political trial? Let’s treat this as an ordinary trial,” said Manjeet.

“I am also getting the impression that Kathavarayan has been kept in solitary confinement. That is literally an inducement.”

Akhtar then informed Manjeet that he had on Monday directed Kathavarayan be kept separated from the other three accused persons in the trial, but not in isolation, and that there was no special treatment to be given.

At this juncture, Ishak said that Kathavarayan had lodged a report on his family’s safety and that the presence of police personnel was just to ensure safety.

On Monday, Akhtar had made the order to keep Kathavarayan separate from the other accused after he had made a revelation that Pathmanabhan was at the farm on the day of the alleged murders, a statement which contradicted the testimonies of the other three accused, who had all denied this.

Kathavarayan’s counsel, Ravi Neeko, had then discharged himself, leaving him unrepresented.

Today, however, Kathavarayan said he wanted to go on testifying without a counsel, but Manjeet urged the court to consider the consequences of a possible mistrial.

“In the Practice Direction 2010, the accused must be represented. We have spent 94 days in the trial spanning over two years. The last thing I want is a potential mistrial being created,” he said.

“There is nothing to stop this accused from him suddenly saying later ‘I don’t know what’s going on’.”

He said he was not prepared to spend another two years if the case was sent back for a retrial.

Akhtar agreed that Kathavarayan should be represented and that the court would assign him a counsel.

“The purpose of a court assigned counsel is to facilitate you (Katharvarayan). You can confide in him. This lawyer will go to see you in Sungai Buloh prison and if you have any objection with the lawyer, you can inform the court,” said the judge.

Akhtar then fixed two weeks for trial to resume beginning Jan 14

Pathmanabhan, 43, T. Thilaiyalagan, 21, R. Matan, 22, and Kathavarayan, 32, were ordered to enter their defence on charges of murdering cosmetic millionaire Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya, 47, bank officer Noorhisham Mohamad, 38, lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim, 32, and driver Kamaruddin Shamsuddin, 44, at Ladang Gadong, Lot 2001, Jalan Tanjong Layang, Tanjung Sepat in Banting, between 8.30pm and 9.45pm on Aug 30, 2010.

-nst.com