Deputy public prosecutor Ishak Mohd Yusoff put forward a scenario for the murders of cosmetics millionaire Sosilawati Lawiya and three other individuals during his cross-examination of second accused T Thilaiyalagan, at the High Court in Shah Alam today.       

Ishak put it to Thilaiyalagan that he made Sosilawati lie down and stabbed her in the nape while first accused N Pathmanabhan witnessed the act on Aug 30 2010.       

He added that the victim then screamed for help loudly.    

Pathmanabhan had ordered Thilaiyalagan to kill the victim in front of him as he wanted to witness the deed personally, continued Ishak.  

And the three men with Sosilawati, bank officer Noorhisham Mohamad, lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim and her driver Kamaruddin Shamsuddin were also killed in the same manner, he said.  

Thilaiyalagan however responded with “disagree” to all the suggestions by Ishak.    

Thilaiyalagan, 21, former lawyer Pathmanabhan, 43, and farm workers R Matan, 22, and R Kathavarayan, 32, were ordered to enter their defence on charges of murdering Sosilawati, 47, Noorhisham, 38, Ahmad Kamil, 32, and Kamaruddin, 44.  

They were charged with committing the offences at Ladang Gadong, Lot 2001, Jalan Tanjong Layang, Tanjung Sepat in Banting between 8.30 and 9.45pm on Aug 30 2010, under Section 302 of the Penal Code which carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.  

Earlier during the cross-examination, Ishak put it to Thilaiyalagan that two BMW cars had entered the farm between 5 and 6pm on the said day, to which the accused answered “disagree” again.  

“I put it to you that in those two cars were a Malay woman, three Malay men and Pathmanabhan,” said Ishak and the accused responded, “disagree”.   

Ordered to tie them up

Thilaiyalagan also did not agree with Ishak’s suggestion that after Sosilawati, Noorhisham, Ahmad Kamil and Kamaruddin had arrived at the farm, Pathmanabhan ordered him to tie them up.  

“You ordered Matan and K.Sarawanan (59th prosecution witness) to bring you the diesel which was on the farm after you had killed Sosilawati, Noorhisham, Ahmad Kamil and Kamaruddin,” Ishak suggested and Thilaiyalagan disagreed.  

“Then you and Sarawanan lifted the four bodies and placed them on a pile of wood which had been arranged earlier.  

“After which, Matan and Sarawanan covered the bodies with more wood, poured the diesel over them and set the whole pile alight.  

“The ground underneath was lined with zinc as well,” Ishak continued with the scenario.   

The accused responded “disagree” to all the suggestions put forward by Ishak.

Thilaiyalagan also disagreed with Ishak that about 8am on Aug 31 2010, he and Matan had collected the pile of ashen remains and put it into a blue metal drum.

Questioned as to whether he had discussed his defence in court with the other accused, Thilaiyalagan said, “I have never discussed my defence with the other accused.”

“I put it to you that you and the other three accused had planned to kill Sosilawati, Noorhisham, Ahmad Kamil and Kamaruddin on Aug 29 2010 itself,” said Ishak, which was disagreed by the accused.    

The trial resumes on Nov 6 before Judge Akhtar Tahir.  

- Bernama