Malaysia court rules Kim Jong Nam assassination trial can proceed

The murder trial of two women accused of assassinating the half-brother of North Korea’s leader can proceed, a Malaysian court ruled on Thursday, a blow to their families who insist the pair were tricked into carrying out the dramatic hit.

After hearing the prosecution case, the judge said there was sufficient evidence to support a murder charge against Siti Aisyah from Indonesia and Doan Thi Huong from Vietnam, accused of murdering Kim Jong Nam with nerve agent VX at Kuala Lumpur airport.

Judge Azmi Ariffin said the evidence presented in court since the trial started in October pointed to a “well-planned conspiracy” with a group of North Korean suspects who are still at large. “I must therefore call upon (the suspects) to enter their defence on their respective charges,” he said at the Shah Alam high court.

The women, who are set to testify during the defence stage of the trial, looked shocked and tearful as the ruling was handed down. The judge could have acquitted them if he thought the evidence was insufficient.

Their families maintain the pair were fooled into carrying out the Cold War-style killing, and had been hopeful they would be acquitted, although state prosecutors insisted they had a strong case. AFP

SHAH ALAM:

Madonna performs at the 2015 Grammy awards; (below) in M l in July this year.