Pekerja kilang diarah bela diri kes bunuh bekas isteri

Mahkamah Rayuan has ordered Zulkifli Joned to defend himself against charges of killing his former wife, seven years after the incident. In Putrajaya, the three-judge panel, led by Justice Azman Abdullah, overturned the 16-year prison sentence previously given to Zulkifli after he confessed to causing death without intent. The judges directed that Zulkifli's defense be conducted before the same trial judge.

The court has set September 2 for the case to be heard. In granting the prosecution's appeal, Justice Azman stated that the trial judge failed to properly consider whether the prosecution had proven a prima facie case of murder before offering Zulkifli, 47, a plea bargain under Section 304(a) of the Penal Code for the murder charge.

"The trial judge should first determine whether the prosecution has established a prima facie case for murder," he said. Assistant Prosecution How May Ling previously argued that the trial judge lacked authority to offer a plea bargain as it was a matter for the prosecution to decide. "In his 30-page judgment, the trial judge did not state a reason for offering a 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 at a flat in Prima Damansara on September 10, 2019. 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, which took effect from the date of his arrest on September 15, 2019. Nor Hidayah's body was reportedly found in a room in the same flat, bound under a blanket and placed under a mattress.