The defence team in the Bandar Utama secondary school murder trial has closed its case, with oral submissions set for Sept 8 at Shah Alam High Court.
SHAH ALAM: The defence in the case of a 15-year-old boy charged with murdering a female student at a secondary school in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, last year closed its case today after all defence witnesses had completed their testimony.
Judge Adlin Abdul Majid directed the prosecution and defence to file their respective replies on Sept 3, with oral submissions scheduled for Sept 8.
Speaking to reporters outside the court, defence lawyer Kitson Foong said the defence had completed its case after two witnesses, including the accused, testified.
“Besides the accused, the other witness called to testify was Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist Dr Ian Lloyd Anthony,” he said.
The teenager is charged with murdering the victim, who was 16 at the time, in a girls’ toilet at a secondary school in Bandar Utama between 9.20 am and 9.35 am on Oct 14, 2025.
The charge was framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty, although the accused, being a juvenile, is subject to the provisions of the Child Act 2001.
The prosecution is led by Deputy Public Prosecutors Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin, Aqharie Durranie Aziz and Ahmad Iqbal Azman.
As the accused is a minor, his identity cannot be disclosed or his photograph taken, while the entire proceedings were conducted in camera.
On Feb 12, the teenager pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out again in Mandarin before Judge Adlin.
On Jan 30, the prosecution obtained the Attorney General’s consent under Section 177A of the Criminal Procedure Code to transfer the case from the Petaling Jaya Magistrate’s Court to the Shah Alam High Court for trial after a psychiatric report found the teenager fit to stand trial.
On Oct 22, 2025, the teenager was charged in the Petaling Jaya Magistrate’s Court, but no plea was recorded as murder cases fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
Section 97(1) of the Child Act 2001 provides that the death penalty cannot be imposed on an offender below 18 years of age upon conviction.
Instead, the court may order the offender to be detained for such period as determined by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Ruler or Yang Dipertua Negeri, under Section 97(2) of the same Act.
