S'porean gets 72 years, 24 strokes for murdering wife, stepson
PETALING JAYA : A Singaporean man has been sentenced to 72 years in prison and 24 strokes of the rotan by the Melaka High Court for murdering his wife and stepson, whose dismembered remains were found in bushes six years ago.
Justice Anselm Charles Fernandis ordered Shahrul Nizam Zuraimy, 36, to serve 36 years' in jail and 12 strokes of the rotan for each charge, with the sentences running consecutively from his arrest on Oct 11, 2019.
He said Shahrul's actions were cruel, noting that he had placed his wife's severed head in the ceiling of their home in an apparent attempt to conceal the crime and the victims' identities.
'The court has considered the concept of life for life, as well as the emotions of the victims' family members.
'However, it must also look at the case as a whole and the wider public interest,' Bernama quoted him as saying.
Anselm said he had taken into account the defence's submissions, the prosecution's points, and statements from the victims' family, who spoke of trauma, health issues and the surviving children's hardship without their mother.
Shahrul was charged with killing his wife, Norfazera Bidin, 27, and her son, Iman Ashraf Abdullah, 11, at their home in Taman Merdeka Jaya, Batu Berendam, between 6pm on Oct 6 and 7.30am on Oct 7, 2019.
The charges under Section 302 of the Penal Code carry the death penalty or a maximum of 40 years' jail, with whipping of at least 12 strokes if the death sentence is not imposed.
Earlier, Norfazera's mother and sister urged the court to impose a commensurate sentence, including the death penalty, while deputy public prosecutors Asri Abd Rahman Sidik and Nur Syazwanie Marizan pressed for either the death sentence or consecutive prison terms.
Asri and Syazwanie said the accused was supposed to protect the victims but killed them instead.
The court must balance public interest with the severity of the cruelty committed, they contended.
The prosecution also said that Shahrul initially misled the victims' family about their whereabouts and fled to Singapore before surrendering.
Defence lawyers Andrew Lourdes and Chua Yong Yi pleaded for leniency, saying their client regretted his actions and deserved a second chance.
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