Mechanic acquitted of murder charge
Judge: Accused had no intention to knock victim down
GEORGE TOWN: A mechanic charged with causing the death of a woman after a quarrel over garbage disposal three years ago has been freed by the Sessions Court here.
Chow Teik Leong, 56, who was accused of knocking down the victim, was overjoyed when the court acquitted and discharged him.
After thanking his counsel Datuk Ranjit Singh, Chow said he was grateful that his family and friends had been supportive throughout the court proceedings.
“Finally, it has ended. I am very relieved,” said Chow outside the court.
Chow was charged with intentionally causing the death of Lee Seoh Pheng, 47, at a lane near the Taman Desa Intan flats, Jalan Thean Tek, Bandar Baru Ayer Itam, at 12.40am on Nov 21, 2014.
He claimed trial to the offence, which carries a jail term of up to 30 years and a possible fine.
The Sessions Court ruled the defence had successfully raised reasonable doubt.
Sessions judge Datuk Ibrahim Osman said there was no CCTV footage to show how the incident took place.
He added that the accused’s account of what transpired was supported by former Penang Hospital senior consultant forensic pathologist Datuk Dr Bhupinder Singh, who said the injuries on the deceased were injuries of an accident.
“According to SP12 (12th prosecuting witness) who is the investigating officer, the brake marks of the tyres left on the road were only two feet, which indicated that the driver was not speeding to knock into the victim intentionally,” Ibrahim said in his judgment.
He said Chow had told the court that he had dropped by the flat to give money for his child who was sick and warded at the hospital.
The accused had claimed that he saw rubbish thrown on his car when he wanted to leave the area.
He proceeded to remove the refuse and got into an argument with a couple, which was the deceased and her husband, over the rubbish disposal.
Lee’s husband Yeoh Beng Kooi, who was present when the judgment was meted out, said he was not satisfied with the decision.