Court upholds labourer’s death sentence for triple murder of children

 

The Court of Appeal in Putrajaya today upheld Shahrul Pitri Jusoh’s conviction and death sentence for the murder of three young children. (Bernama pic)

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal has upheld the death penalty in the case of a labourer accused of murdering three siblings at a house in Kampung Sungai Muhammad in Bagan Datuk, Perak, five years ago.

According to Justice Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera – joined on the bench by Collin Lawrence Sequerah and Azmi Ariffin – the insanity plea relied upon by the defendant, Shahrul Pitri Jusoh, had no merit.

“Even the defence’s own witness, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, rebutted this argument.”

He said the doctor testified that Shahrul knew the consequences of his actions when committing the crimes.

In declaring the conviction safe, Vazeer said: “There are no cogent reasons to alter the decision of the High Court.”

Vazeer said Shahrul’s court-assigned counsel Rajit Singh, following recent amendments to the law, had urged the court to commute the death sentence to a life term of between 30 and 40 years.

“Three children’s lives were lost and the crime was a cruel act,” Vazeer said, adding that the court must also give priority to public interest and the victims’ family.

The Ipoh High Court convicted Shahrul of murdering Faqih Zahirulhaq Fadzil, 5, Firash Zafrill, 3, and Nur Zia Fasihah, 2, on Aug 7, 2020.

He committed the offences at a house in the village between 2.30pm and 4.30pm on May 17, 2018.

In court today, deputy public prosecutor Fauziah Daud submitted consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Ian Lloyd Anthony’s testimony, which did not support the defence of legal insanity.

“The doctor conducted 11 interviews with the accused and concluded that Shahrul was fit to stand trial and also knew what he was doing during the incident,” she added.

Rajit, who was assisted by Robin Lim, said the accused committed the crime out of anger towards the victims’ father.

“He now regrets his actions and has repented. He is also asking for forgiveness from the victims’ family,” the lawyer said.

The accused, also known as Rambo, had gone to the house with a parang to look for the victims’ father, who was not at home.

Instead, he hacked the children to death and later boasted to villagers he had taken three lives.

Shahrul has one more automatic right of appeal before the Federal Court. - FMT