Gelugor:The High Court has set October 14 for closing submissions in the defence case of four men accused of murdering teenager T. Nhaveen nine years ago. Judge Datuk Mohd Radzi Abdul Hamid made this decision after proceedings concluded earlier than expected.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the judge reminded the parties that the case involves two charges under Section 302 and Section 326 of the Penal Code. He emphasized the importance of distinguishing between the charges and the evidence presented in their submissions.

During the trial, deputy public prosecutor Mohd Amril Johari questioned the testimony of the last accused, who claimed he was attacked by Nhaveen's friend, T. Previin, with a helmet during an attempt to break up a scuffle on June 9, 2017, at Jalan Kaki Bukit in Gelugor. The prosecutor highlighted the lack of medical evidence for the alleged injuries and questioned why this claim was not made during earlier proceedings.

The accused denied the allegations of attacking Previin and Nhaveen and claimed ignorance about how Nhaveen sustained his fatal injuries. His testimony was presented in Tamil with the help of a court interpreter.

The prosecution team includes Mohd Amril, Yazid Mustaqim Roslan, and Noor Azura Zulkiflee, while the accused, J. Ragesuthen, 27, S. Gokulan, 27, and two other teenagers, are represented by Maanveer Singh Dhillon, R. Thevan, and Lim Sheng Zhe. The Court of Appeal previously ordered the accused to enter their defence on the murder charge after the prosecution's appeal led to the reversal of their acquittal on October 3, 2023.

The defendants are also required to defend themselves against charges of injuring Previin near the Karpal Singh Learning Centre on the same night of June 9, 2017. Nhaveen succumbed to severe injuries on June 15, 2017, after being treated for six days at Penang Hospital.