Death sentence for security guard for murdering three family members

SHAH ALAM: A security guard was sentenced to death by the High Court today after he was found guilty of murdering three family members by giving them poison-tainted drinks during a prayer ritual in Kajang four years ago.
Judge Datuk Ghazali Cha handed down the judgment after finding K.Murugan, 46, had failed to raise reasonable doubts against the prosecution case.
Murugan was charged with murdering M. Sakunthala, 64, and her children – K.Rajeswary, 29, and K.Manivannam, 33 – at house No: 2, Jalan Melur 2, Taman Sri Ramal between 10.30pm on March 31, 2012 and 2.30pm on April 1, 2012.

The charge, under Section 302 of the Penal Code, carries the mandatory death sentence on conviction.
Ghazali also sentenced Murugan to a total of 30 years' jail after finding him guilty on two counts of giving drinks tainted with Paraquat poison that could have caused the death of two other people at the same place, time and date.
The victims in the case were Sakunthala's husband, M.Karuppanan, 66, and their daughter, K.Malati, 32.
Murugan was sentenced to 15 years' jail on each count, to be served consecutively from the date of his arrest on April 18, 2012.
The charge, under Section 307 (1) of the Penal Code, provides an imprisonment for up to 20 years and is liable to fine, on conviction.
In his judgment, Ghazali said the defence by Murugan was merely a denial and the accused was identified by two of the victims (Karuppanan and Malati) during an identification parade.
"The accused was also lying when he said the jewellery and handphones belonging to Sakunthala and her children, as well as money, were given to him (Murugan) by Karuppanan for safe keeping.
"The accused, in his defence, also said he fled after knowing the three family members were dead, which clearly showed that he is guilty," he added.
The prosecution was conducted by DPP Hafizza Sauni while Murugan was represented by lawyer V. Jayamurugan. — Bernama