TAWAU: A Kolej Vokasional Lahad Datu student testified in the High Court today that the second accused had instructed everyone in dormitory room 5 Belian to leave him alone with Mohamad Nazmie Aizzat Mohd Narul Azwan on the night of the incident on March 21.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the 17th prosecution witness stated that after receiving the instructions, several occupants of the room, including the 10 accused-namely the first, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, and thirteenth accused-who had been involved in assaulting the victim, exited the room. The witness described that he stayed behind due to fatigue and fear, observing the second accused assaulting the victim by punching and kicking him, and then dragging him around the room.
The court heard that the second accused allegedly pushed the victim into a locker, causing a loud noise. Despite intervention attempts by the first, fifth, and sixth accused, who re-entered the room and urged the second accused to stop, he in
sisted they leave and continued his assault.
The trial also included testimony from the 18th prosecution witness, another student at the college, who recounted seeing the victim on a mattress, covered in blankets, in Dormitory Room 7 Belian at 5 am. He noted attempts by the 11th accused to wake the victim, who appeared unresponsive.
Thirteen students, aged between 16 and 19, face charges under Section 302 of the Penal Code for the murder of Mohamad Nazmie Aizzat, 17, at Dormitory Room 7 Resak and 5 Belian, Lahad Datu Vocational College, between the night of March 21 and the following morning. The law mandates severe penalties, including the death penalty or long-term imprisonment with caning, upon conviction.
The prosecution is represented by deputy public prosecutors Nur Nisla Abd Latif, Nulg Juhn Tao, and Batrisyia Mohd Khusri. Defense representation for the accused is provided by lawyers Datuk Ram Singh, Kamaruddin Mohmad Chinki, Chen Wen Jye, Mohamad Zairi, Abdul Ghani Zelika, Vivian Thien, Jhassany P
Kang, and Kusni Ambotuwo.
The trial is set to continue tomorrow.