Prosecutors sa\ susSects Pust KaYe Eeen trained to kill .iP -ong 8n¶s KalI ErotKer
0ALA<SIA - Two women accused of murdering the estranged half-brother of North Korea¶s leader must have been trained to carry out “an assassination” using deadly VX nerve agent, 0alaysian prosecutors said, wrapping up their case yesterday. Indonesian Siti Aisyah and Doan Thi Huong, a Vietnamese, were charged with having common intent with four North Korean fugitives to kill Kim -ong Nam at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in February 1 .
Kim¶s face was smeared with VX, a banned nerve agent developed as a chemical weapon. “<ou have to be trained for it« there can be no room for error”, prosecutor :an Shaharuddin :an Ladin said, likening the “assassination” to something seen “in a -ames %ond movie”.
The women, both in their s, are the only suspects in custody and face the death penalty if convicted. They pleaded not guilty, saying they believed they were acting in a prank reality show and did not know they were handling anything lethal.
:an Shaharuddin said assassins would have to know the best route for VX to enter the victim¶s body, and know that they have to wash the VX off themselves within 1 minutes to avoid being contaminated. Airport security footage screened in court showed both women heading to a washroom shortly after the assault on Kim.
“If it was a prank, why did you smear not only on his face or on his eyelids, but also in the eye itself"” :an Shaharuddin said, adding that there was “an element of aggressiveness” involved.
The prosecution made their closing arguments based on
witness testimonies. Trial judge Azmi Ariffin set Aug 16 to rule on whether to acTuit the women or call for them to enter their defense.
Defense lawyers say the killing was politically motivated, with many key suspects linked to the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur, suggesting the women were mere pawns.
Pyongyang has denied accusations by South Korean and U.S. officials that North Korean leader Kim -ong Un¶s regime was behind the killing.
(Reuters)