17-year-old arrested after mother, brother found murdered in Melaka

New Straits Times

a day ago

MELAKA: A 51-year-old teacher and her eldest son were found dead, believed to have been murdered, while her youngest child was seriously injured in an incident in Bukit Rambai, early this morning.
It is understood that the bodies of the woman and her 21-year-old son were found lying in a pool of blood in the living room, while the surviving victim, her 13-year-old son, was found in the porch area of the house.
State police chief Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar said a team was deployed to the scene after the police received information on the murder at 6.15am.
"Investigations at the scene found the bodies of the woman and her son, both with multiple stab wounds.
"In addition, another male victim, the woman's third child, sustained injuries and was taken to Melaka Hospital by ambulance at around 7am," he said in a statement.
Dzulkhairi said investigations at the scene led the police to the arrest of a 17-year-old suspect, who is also the second child of the family.
Later during a press conference at the Melaka police headquarters, Dzulkhairi said the police also seized a folding knife, about 20cm long, in the suspect's school bag.
When asked on the motive behind the murder, Dzulkhairi did not rule out the possibility that it stemmed from resentment, as the woman and her eldest son had allegedly frequently scolded the suspect and pressured him to revise his studies.
"Neighbours claimed there were frequent arguments in the house, and the suspect was under pressure as he was forced to study, possibly because he was preparing for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination," he said.
Dzulkhairi also said the police believed the murder was premeditated, as it was found that the weapon used in the murder had been purchased in advance.
"The teenager also attempted to destroy evidence, including discarding blood-stained clothing in nearby bushes, but we managed to recover them," he added.
He said the suspect confessed to initially trying to kill the teacher while she was in the bedroom but was discovered by his older brother, who was then also stabbed while attempting to protect their mother.
The suspect then allegedly tried to kill his 13-year-old younger brother after the latter refused to leave the house when ordered to do so.
"However, when the boy refused, he was also stabbed.
"The victim managed to escape and was found covered in blood in the porch area of the house before being rescued by neighbours after they heard him shouting for help," he said.
Dzulkhairi said the bodies have been sent to the Melaka Hospital's Forensics Department for post-mortem.
The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
Earlier today, it was reported a teacher and her eldest son were found dead, while another son was rushed to hospital in what is believed to be a case of double murder early this morning.
It is learnt that members of the public made the gruesome discovery when they saw the body of one of the victims in front of a house in Bukit Rambai and alerted the police at about 6am.