Woman sentenced to death for murder of stepmother

SHAH ALAM: A woman was sentenced to death by the High Court here today after she and her stepsister were found guilty of murdering their stepmother by smothering her with a pillow two years ago.
Judge Datuk Akhtar Tahir held that the unemployed accused, Zahidah Ahmad, 27, and her 18-year-old stepsister had failed to raise a reasonable doubt against the prosecution's case.
The court, however, set April 28 for the sentencing of Zahidah's stepsister, pending a probation report as she was still a minor (16) at the time of the offence.
Zahidah and her stepsister were jointly charged with killing Tanziah Zainuddin, at a house in Taman Sri Wangi, Kapar, Klang at about 5.30pm on July 14, 2012.
They were charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code which carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.
A total of 14 prosecution and three defence witnesses were called throughout the trial.
Akhtar said he found both the accused's testimonies to be a mere denial, adding that the prosecution witnesses were more credible.
"I find that the prosecution has proven beyond a reasonable doubt the charges against the accused and hold them guilty as charged," Bernama quoted the judge as saying.
The prosecution was handled by deputy public prosecutor Iswa Tonie while the two sisters were represented by lawyers Tan Teck Yaw and Liow Boon Lee.
It was earlier reported that the death of the victim, a religious teacher, had initially been classified as sudden death, and she had been buried. However, three days after her burial, one of her family members found some of the deceased's jewellery missing and lodged a police report.
The victim's body was exhumed and a post-mortem revealed that the cause of the elderly woman's death was asphyxiation.