Kota Kinabalu: A 51-year-old man, who was charged with murdering his wife in Sook, last year, was ordered to enter his defence against the charge.
High Court Judge Datuk Dr Lim Hock Leng made the order on Patersius Juliteh @ Julit, on Thursday.
Dr Lim held that the prosecution had made out a prima facie case against Patersius as per the charge and called him to enter his defence.
The court fixed March 21 for Patersius’ defence.
Patersius was accused of murdering Sansiah Tinggian, 41, on Feb 2, 2024, at 11pm, at a house in Kg Tingalan.
The offence under Section 302 of the Penal Code carries a sentence of either a death penalty or imprisonment for not less than 30 years but not exceeding 40 years, and if not sentenced to death, shall be punished with whipping of not less than 12 strokes for male convicts below 50 years of age, on conviction
A total of seven witnesses were called to testify at the prosecution stage.
Counsel Abdul Fikry Jaafar Abdullah informed the court that the accused elected to give evidence from the witness box in his defence.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Dacia Jane Romanus prosecuted.
Patersius was ordered to be further remanded.
In another case, a 25-year-old woman was fined RM800 or jailed two months for having gambling paraphernalia.
Erica Alpeche pleaded guilty before Magistrate Dzul Elmy Yunus to purchase 4D lottery illegally on Aug 5, 2024, at 11.25am, in a premises, at 88 Market, Jalan Lintas.
The charge under Section 9(1) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 provides for a fine of up to RM5,000 or a jail term of up to six months or both, on conviction.
The prosecution told the court that Erica was arrested by police for committing the offence and seized gambling paraphernalia.
Inspector Mohamad Hamidi Mohamad Hamzah prosecuted.