Bouncer to hang for killing student
KOTA KINABALU: A part-time security officer was found guilty of killing a college student two years ago and sentenced to death by the High Court here yesterday.
Mohd Azmin Lidin, 29, was seen calm in the dock but both his eyes indicated that he was holding back his tears when listening to a court interpreter’s explanation, word by word, on the court’s verdict.
Justice Datuk Nurchaya Hj Arshad, who read in the open court her judgement, said in simple language, the court could only convict the accused if it had considered the whole evidence.
She also said the court was sure the accused was guilty of the offence charged and if the court was less than sure of the accused’s guilt, then the case was not proven beyond reasonable doubt, for then there would be a lingering doubt in the court’s mind as to his guilt.
“In this regard, I’m left with no reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of the offence as charged, I’m satisfied that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt,” Nurchaya ruled.
She further held that in the circumstances, the accused was convicted of the offence charged and there is only one sentence provided by law for the offence, and that is the death sentence.
“I order the accused to be brought to a lawful place where he shall be hung on the neck until he dies,” added Nurchaya.
The accused was convicted under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murdering Yaacob Nasran, 18, not far from a bar between 4am and 4.30am on December 15, 2016.
Mohd Azmin was then escorted by the police to sit at the public gallery where his family members were also seen seated, while on the other side of the gallery, the deceased’s family members were seen.
Soon after the decision, the deceased’s family left the courtroom and waited outside. It was overheard that the deceased’s father wanted to see the accused for one last time.
The deceased’s family hugged each other and cried outside the courtroom.
Mohd Azmin then came out from the courtroom escorted by police, and wiping his tears, confronted the deceased’s family, saying: “Saya tidak bunuh anak kamu”. (I did not kill your son).
One of the family members, who is the deceased’s mother replied to the accused: “Kamu bersalah dari awal” (you were guilty from the beginning). She was later stopped by the deceased’s father and their lawyer and the accused walked away escorted by the police.
The accused then met his family members, believed to be his mother, wife, kids and relatives.
It was overheard that the accused had calmed his crying mother who sat on the floor, unable to accept what had just happened, while his relatives prevented the media from taking photos of them.
The deceased’s father, Nasran Harun, told reporters that the family would like to thank all those involved for their support and kindness in helping all of them in their ‘journey of despair’, especially members of the public, family, friends and everybody who had offered support, and also to their watching brief counsel Mary Gomez.
“Yaacob would have been 20 years old on May 25. We cry for a life not lived,” said Nasran, who could not hold his tears, adding that the verdict did nothing to bring back his son.
He said it was not a victory of any sort to them as they kept mourning for their hero Yaacob, everyday.
However, he said part of the process of justice had been served.
“If a person who murders an innocent child for absolutely no reason is not hanged, it says little of our values for justice and deterrence to protect our children in the future.
“Azmin’s actions in denying our child his life, means he had denied him the right to nurture and guide his family,” said Nasran.
He said witnesses like the DJ, the person who had started the fight and other bouncers involved who had disappeared without being charged with the original assault that allegedly led to the murder, should perhaps be further investigated.
“Let us pray in the new Malaysia, that the authorities will implement laws so that samurai swords and venues with a track record of violence, get closed down,” said Nasran, who hopes that owners too are appropriately punished for allegedly allowing such incidents to happen.
Deputy public prosecutor Gan Peng Kun prosecuted while counsel Dato’ Seri Rakhbir Singh represented the accused.