The man who allegedly killed a hairdressing salon owner, her five-year-old son and her maid last month was charged with murder in Ipoh today.

Unemployed 26-year-old Shahrael Amir Suhaimi from Pengkalan, Perak, was accused of committing the crime at the salon owner's house between 2.30pm and 3pm on May 20 this year.

He faces three murder charges under Section 302 of the Penal Code which carries a mandatory death sentence upon conviction.

The victims were the salon owner Wah Yah Matzi, 42, her son Mohd Ermin Danish Jafri and her Indonesian maid Dani Miasih, 21.

No plea was recorded from Shahrael.

Magistrate Fauziah Hani Ahmad Fuzi fixed July 29 for mention after deputy public prosecutor Nurul Izalina Rajaai said that the prosecution was waiting for the chemist's and post-mortem reports.

"I need more time to prepare for the case as the chemist report and post-mortem report are still pending," she said.

Nurul told the court that her office had only submitted the application for the chemist report on June 1 and the post-mortem report on May 25.

Shahrael was unrepresented in court. He was also denied bail.

Suspect high on drugs

The triple murders caused a buzz in Ipoh for the manner the crime was committed in broad daylight.

It was reported that Wah Yah was trailed home after a trip to a bank.

Upon entering her house, the suspect slashed and stabbed Wah Yah, Ermin Denish Jafri and Diani Miasih before making off with a laptop.

A family friend who saw the suspect speeding off from the house gave a chase and caught up with the suspect, who was then beaten up and handed over to the police.

The police then had remanded the suspect for seven days to assist in investigations.

The police confirmed that the suspect was also high on morphine when he allegedly committed the crimes.