Kota Kinabalu: The Magistrate’s Court on Thursday fixed July 23 for further mention of the case of a 71-year-old man accused of murdering his former fiancée, whose body parts were found in a rubbish bin at Taman Indah Permai, Sepanggar, pending the completion of his psychiatric report.
Magistrate Dzul Elmy Yunus set the date after the prosecution applied for another mention as the psychiatric report from Hospital Mesra Bukit Padang was still outstanding.
Inspector Mohamad Hamidi Mohamad Hamzah, prosecuting, informed the court that the report had yet to be received from the hospital.
Counsel Datuk Ram Singh, representing the accused, said they, the defence counsel had visited the accused’s house together with officers involved in the assessment on Wednesday (June 24) and was given to understand that Hospital Mesra may write to the court to request additional time to complete the psychiatric report.
Ram also informed the court that they had visited the locus in quo, namely the accused’s house and the two dumpster locations, as part of the psychiatric assessment process.
Piluta’s attendance was dispensed with during Thursday’s proceedings.
On June 12, the court allowed Piluta and his counsel to be present during a visit to his house and the alleged crime scene as part of an ongoing psychiatric assessment.
The prosecution had informed the court that Hospital Mesra Bukit Padang stated in a letter that the visit formed part of the assessment being conducted to prepare a psychiatric report ordered by the court.
Piluta is charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code with murdering his former fiancée, Hamidah Husin @ Lisa, 44, at a house in Kampung Sri Kenangan, Jalan Sepanggar, between 6pm and 7pm on Feb 11.
The charge carries the death penalty or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years and, if not sentenced to death, a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane, on conviction.
On April 15, the court ordered Piluta to undergo psychiatric observation at Hospital Mesra Bukit Padang following an application by the defence.
No plea has been recorded from Piluta as the offence falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
Together with Ram were counsel Joan Goh, Ian Vun and Prem Elmer Ganasan.
