Three former college students were sentenced to death by the Shah Alam High Court yesterday when they were found guilty of murdering their lecturer, Zara Eleena Omar Peter and her father, two years ago.

Judge Abdul Halim Aman made the decision after he was satisfied that the defence of Mohamad Zul Shahril Suhaimi, 22, Mohamad Sharafe Matt Noh, 21, and Azizi Aizat Ibrahim, 22, failed to raise reasonable doubt on the prosecution's case.

   

The trio, who were former students of Cybernetics International College of Technology, were charged with killing Zara Eleena, 23, who lectured in English at the college, between 1.30am and 2.30am on March 9, 2012.

   

They are also accused of killing her father, Omar Peter Abdullah, 56, a retired accountant between 11.30pm on March 8, 2012 and 1.30am, the following day.

   

The three were charged with murdering the duo at house No 28, Jalan TK 1/11, Taman Kinrara, Puchong.

   

Earlier, the court acquitted another accused, Muhammad Safwan Mohammed, 22, of both murder charges after finding that the prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case against him.

'There was motive'

   

In his judgment, Abdul Halim said after examining all the witnesses' evidence, he found that the murders were with motive where the first accused, Mohamad Zul Shahril masterminded the entire incident, stemming from the loss of jewellery belonging to Zara Eleena's mother, Normaliah Mahmood.

   

"Based on the evidence of the victim's mother (Normaliah), it is clear that the jewellery taken by the first accused was the main motive for which he had asked the others to kill (both victims), which led to the planning and preparation to murder both victims.

   

"I find the evidence of the prosecution's witnesses more reliable and consistent as compared to the defence of the three accused which focused on mere denial of their involvement in the case," he said.

   

Abdul Halim said the three accused had acted in a state of consciousness and were aware of the impact of their actions.

 

"The first defendant (Mohamad Zul Shahril) was Zara Eleena's boyfriend, although he denied it and this fact cannot be denied as proved by Zara Eleena's mother, who had found Zara Eleena's letter to the accused.

   

"Now, it's time for you to pay for the cruel and inhuman act towards both victims. I order the three accused to be hanged by the neck until pronounced dead," he said.

   

When the proceedings ended, the three accused were seen hugging their family members and weeping. When Mohamad Zul Shahril hugged his mother, she fainted and had to be carried out by family members.

   

Normaliah and Zara Eleena's uncle, Dr Mohd Shah Mahmood, told reporters outside the court that they were thankful that justice had been meted out in favour of their family.

   

A total of 32 prosecution witnesses and three defence witnesses were called to testify during the trial.

   

Deputy Public Prosecutor Rosidah Abu Bakar appeared for the prosecution while the three accused were represented by lawyers Muhammad Adhwa Azfar Muhammad Tajuddin, Rusli Zain and Abdul Halem Mohamad Husin.

- Bernama