Wife faces death penalty in Malaysia for alleged murder of ex-firefighter
THE wife of a former Midland firefighter is facing the death penalty after she allegedly stabbed him to death in Malaysia.
Samantha Jones, 51, was given a six-day remand order after appearing at Langkawi Magistrates Court.
Her husband, John William Jones, 62, was found by a neighbour, sprawled on the floor of their home on the island.
He had suffered a stab wound to his chest at about 2.30am on October 18, police said.
In Malaysia, murder carries a mandatory death sentence.
Father-of-two Mr Jones was born in Stourport and served at both Kidderminster and Bromsgrove fire stations.
In the 1980s, he moved to Yeovil, Somerset, and rose to the rank of chief fire officer.
It is understood that Mr Jones and his wife, aged 61, uprooted to Langkawi 11 years ago as part of the ‘Malaysia Second Home’ programme, which grants foreigners long-stay visas.
She reportedly told police she stabbed her husband in self-defence after suffering years of domestic abuse and violence at his hands.
Lawyer Sangeet Kaur Deo told reporters Jones was asked by a court official if she understood the murder charge, which carries the mandatory death sentence by hanging. She said her client said yes. Jones did not enter a plea as the magistrates’ court has no jurisdiction to hear a murder case, Kaur said.
The case is expected to be transferred to the High Court.
The lawyer added that Jones was “very, very overwhelmed” and was grieving for her husband.
A police officer reportedly said a 12-inch knife was found d covered in blood stains in the he married couple’s bed- room.
Pictures showed Samantha Jones being arrested with her hands behind her back.
She was court by a and other clothes.
A post-mortem examination is due escorted to o policewoman an officers in plain take place after her ban band’s body was sent ho hospital in Alor Setar. Mr Jones returned to t the UK this year to tackle the famed Three Peaks Challenge with h his daughter, climbing B Ben Nevis, Snowdon and Sc Scafell. A spokesman for the Foreign O Office said they were assisting the family and were in contact with the Malaysian police. to husto a