Nhaveen’s family upset case postponed for second time

GEORGE TOWN: A second postponement of T. Nhaveen’s murder case did not go down well with his family members, who expressed their dismay outside the magistrate’s courtroom.

Lawyer Datuk Baljit Singh, who held a watching brief for the family, said they were disappointed with the delay in the chemist’s report.

“It has already been six months. Why is it so long?

“The family urges the deputy public prosecutor and the Chemistry Department to expedite the report,” he told reporters yesterday.

Magistrate Mohamad Amin Shahul Hamid had earlier fixed Jan 11 for mention of the murder case pending the completion of a chemist’s report.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Syafiq Mohd Sazali prosecuted.

This was the second time that the case has been postponed. The first postponement on Sept 28 was made pending the completion of a medical report, which has since been made available to the defendants and the prosecution.

J. Ragesuthen and S. Gokulan, both 18, along with two other youths, one aged 16 and another who turned 18 in July, were charged with murdering Nhaveen between 11pm and midnight on June 9 near a learning centre in Jalan Kaki Bukit, Bukit Gelugor.

They were jointly charged in June under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the mandatory death sentence on conviction.

Nhaveen’s mother D. Shanti, 43, who was also present, looked distraught as she avoided contact with the cameras.

Earlier, the four accused were also brought to the Sessions Court over charges of assaulting T. Previin, who was with Nhaveen when he was beaten to death.

They were charged under Section 326 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail sentence of 20 years and a fine or whipping upon conviction.

Judge Irwan Suainbon also fixed Jan 11 for mention of that case pending completion of the chemist’s report.

It was reported that Nhaveen was found unconscious around midnight on June 10.

He died at Penang Hospital on June 15.