Six in DPP murder case ordered to enter defence

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court yesterday ordered six men, including a pathologist, charged with the murder of deputy public prosecutor Datuk Anthony Kevin Morais, whose body was found in a cement-filled drum, to enter their defence.

Judge Datuk Azman Abdullah made the order after finding that the prosecution had succeeded in establishing a prima facie at the end of the prosecution case.

The accused are pathologist Colonel Dr R. Kunaseegaran, 54; R.Dinishwaran, 25; A.K Thinesh Kumar, 24; M.Vishwanath, 27; S. Nimalan, 24, all unemployed, and money lender S.Ravi Chandaran, 46 s Azman ordered the six men to enter their defence , Kevin Morais’ brother, Datuk Richard Dilaan Morais, who was at the public gallery, smiled an clapped his hands.

The court fixed six days, beginning Jan 18 next year, to hear the defence by the six accused.

Kunaseegaran, Dinishwaran, Thinesh Kumar, Vishwanath, Nimalan and Ravi Chandaran had pleaded not guilty to a charge of murdering Kevin Morais along Jalan Dutamas Raya Sentul to No. 1 Jalan USJ1/6D, Subang Jaya, between 7am and 8pm on Sept 4, 2015.

They were charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same law, and faced the mandatory death sentence upon conviction..

Kunaseegaran,A was initially charged with abetting the five men in committing the offence at the same place, date and time, but the charge was amended to that of murder last May 15.

Deputy public prosecutor Saiful Edris Zainuddin prosecuted, while lawyers Datuk N.Sivananthan, represented Kunaseegaran; V.Rajehgopal for Vishwanath, Nimalan and Ravi Chandaran and M. Manoharan appeared for Dinishwaran andThinesh Kumar.

Lawyer Datuk Simon Sabapathy held a watching brief for Kevin Morais’ family.

A total of 70 prosecution witnesses testified during the trial, held for 57 days since April 6, 2016.

Meanwhile, lawyer Datuk Simon Sabapathy, who held a watching brief for Kevin Morais’s family. - Bernama