Lahad Datu: The High Court hearing the murder case of Lahad Datu Vocational College student Mohamad Nazmie Aizzat Mohd Narul Azwan was informed today that after being pushed and slapped in dormitory room 5 Belian, the victim returned to his dormitory room at 7 Resak.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the victim’s close friend and dormitory mate, who is the 13th accused in the case, stated that he accompanied Mohamad Nazmie Aizzat back to their room. He described that at that time, the victim seemed fine and was advised against stealing, though he remained silent, engaged with his mobile phone. The accused mentioned that the victim later intended to take a shower, and he assisted by fetching the victim’s towel and toiletries before heading to dormitory room 1 Belian to play games and eat instant noodles.

The accused, also serving as the 15th defense witness, admitted in his witness statement to slightly slapping the victim once on the back. He further revealed that a teacher, known as ‘Cikgu Firdaus’, instructed him and other suspects to write a confession on A4 paper admitting to beating the victim. This paper was allegedly handed over to the police by the teacher.

On February 28, Judge Duncan ordered 13 teenagers, aged 16 to 19, to defend themselves against charges of murdering Mohamad Nazmie Aizzat at the Lahad Datu Vocational College between 9 pm on March 21 last year and 7.38 am the following day. The charges fall under Section 302 of the Penal Code, combined with Section 34, which stipulate the death penalty or imprisonment of 30 to 40 years and up to 12 strokes of the cane upon conviction.

The prosecution team includes deputy public prosecutors Nur Nisla Abdul Latif, Ng Juhn Tao, and Batrisyia Mohd Khusri. Eight of the accused are represented by lawyers Datuk Ram Singh, Kamarudin, and Chen Wen Jye, while the remaining five are defended by lawyers Mohamed Zairi Zainal Abidim, Abdul Ghani Zelika, Vivian Thien, Jhesseny P Kang, and Kusni Ambotuwo. The trial is ongoing.