A quiet village in Merbok is in shock after a family was found dead in their home, with a depressed son suspected of killing his parents before taking his own life
SUNGAI PETANI: Friends and neighbours of a couple murdered in Kampung Belau, Merbok, are struggling to comprehend the unprecedented tragedy.
Hashim Abdul Aziz, 66, said the villagers never expected such a violent incident to befall the kind and friendly family.
He described victim Zikri Abdul Rahman, 65, as a well-liked man who never caused problems and regularly attended mosque prayers.
“He was the kindest person and never got angry with anyone,” Hashim said when met at the scene.
The last time Hashim saw Zikri was on Sunday at the mosque, after which the victim was not seen again.
Concern grew when Zikri did not answer calls and his wife, a school worker, had been absent from work since Tuesday.
Neighbours noticed clothes still on the line and detected a foul odour emanating from the house before alerting police.
Officers discovered the couple dead in the kitchen and found the body of the wife’s 29-year-old son upstairs with slash marks on his neck.
A relative, Muhammad Khairil Afif Abdul Manaf, 25, expressed shock at the suspect’s alleged actions.
He said the son had suffered from depression for years and rarely left the house or mingled with villagers.
Police found the couple’s bodies, dead for over 48 hours, wrapped in a carpet and clothing in the kitchen.
The suspect’s body was found covered in blood on the upper floor of the house.
All three bodies were sent to Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Setar for post-mortem examinations.
The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
