Pekerja kilang diarah bela diri kes bunuh bekas isteri

Mahkamah Rayuan has ordered ex-factory worker Zulkifli Joned to defend himself against charges of murdering his ex-wife, seven years after the incident. In Putrajaya, the three-judge panel led by Judge Azman Abdullah upheld the appeal raised by the prosecution. The judges also dismissed the 16-year prison sentence previously handed to Zulkifli, who pleaded guilty to causing death without intent.

Judge Azman, along with Judges Leonard David Shim and K Muniandy, instructed that Zulkifli's defense be presented before the same magistrate court. A management hearing for the case has been set for September 2. In granting the prosecution's appeal, Judge Azman stated that the trial judge failed to initially consider whether the prosecution had established a prima facie case for murder.

"The trial judge should have first ascertained whether the prosecution had proven the prima facie case for murder," he said. Assistant Public Prosecutor How May Ling previously argued that the trial judge lacked authority to offer the plea bargain as it fell under the discretion of the public prosecutor. "In his 30-page judgment, the trial judge also did not state the reasons for offering the plea bargain," she added.

Zulkifli's lawyer, Suzanawati Ismail, urged the panel to uphold the High Court's decision. On September 27, 2019, Zulkifli was charged with murdering Nor Hidayah Ahmad, 30, between 8:53 am and 11:20 am in a flat in Prima Damansara on September 10 that year. The case was transferred to the High Court in Shah Alam for Zulkifli to be tried for murder.

On November 13 of the same year, Zulkifli was sentenced to 16 years in prison, with the order taking effect from the date of his arrest on September 15, 2019. It is reported that Nor Hidayah's body was found in a room in the same flat, bound with a blanket and a sheet.