The Federal Court in Putrajaya today rejected an appeal by a 24-year-old youth and affirmed his conviction and sentence for the murder of his 16-year-old girlfriend nine years ago.

The appellant was aged 15, a school dropout and working as a karaoke assistant when he committed the offence.

He was found guilty by the Temerloh High Court of stabbing Noraini Omar to death along Simpang Jengka 5 to Kuala Sentul, Sungai Jerik, Maran, Pahang on Sept 2, 2006, at 4.30pm.

Being a minor, he was not given any prison term but detained at the pleasure of the Sultan of Pahang.

His appeal today was heard before a five-member bench led by Court of Appeal president Md Raus Sharif.

Others in the panel were Chief Judge of Malaya Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Richard Malanjum, and Federal Court Judge Suriyadi Halim Omar and Mohamed Apandi Ali.

In rejecting the appeal, Justice Md Raus referred to the youth’s defence that he was not at the scene of the crime.

The defence had contradicted with the prosecution’s sixth witness’ testimony that she saw him pursuing and stabbing the victim with a knife.

Counsel Rozilan Abdul Rahman represented the appellant while deputy public prosecutor Lailawati Ali appeared for the prosecution.

- Bernama