Chaotic scenes at re-enactment of Kim Jong-nam killing
NORTH KOREA - Two women accused of killing the North Korean leader’s half-brother made a chaotic three-hour tour of the Malaysian airport where the alleged crime took place.
Handcuffed and wearing bullet-proof vests, Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 25, and Doan Thi Huong, 28, of Vietnam, walked around the crime scene yesterday, surrounded by dozens of balaclava-clad police who attempted to hold back journalists. Halfway through the visit, Doan appeared unwell while Siti Aisyah burst into tears, after which the pair were put in wheelchairs. Defence lawyers later said both suspects were worn out from being weighed down by their vests. “They had to wear bulletproof vests, it is heavy, we walked for three hours. Siti Aisyah and Doan were exhausted,” said Gooi Soon Seng, Aisyah’s lawyer. The visit to the budget airport terminal was organized to give those involved in the case including the judge, prosecutors and defense lawyers a better understanding of events on 13 February. “The CCTV footage was taken from various cameras and various places, so from there we couldn’t get a complete picture on how [the incident] took place,” Gooi told a news conference after the visit. But the tour quickly descended into disorder as photographers rushed to get images of the women, who have both pleaded not guilty. The busy terminal remained open, and passengers looked on in confusion at the procession of more than 200 police officers, many heavily armed.Kim Jong-nam died from a seizure while being taken to hospital after complaining that a woman had sprayed chemicals on him. Leaked CCTV footage later showed what prosecutors allege was the two women smearing VX nerve agent on his face. The women say they were duped into believing they were playing a harmless prank for a hidden-camera show. Yesterday’s site visit included a restaurant where Aisyah was seen meeting an unidentified man, the toilets where police witnesses said both women had gone to after the attack, the clinic where the victim sought medical aid and the taxi stands where both suspects were seen after the attack.
(Theguardian.com)