Joy and sorrow at murder verdict

IPOH: It was cheers followed by tears when a father was acquitted of a murder charge while his son was found guilty by the High Court here today.
However, judge Datuk Zainal Adzam Abd Ghani deferred sentencing to July 23.
Counsel for the accused Datuk Naran Singh said based on the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Code, a victim impact statement had to be obtained by the prosecution before the judge.
A family member of the victim would be called up to give the after impact statement following the murder.
R. Ramayah, 49, together with his son, R. Nomalan, 16, (at the time of the offence) were charged with the murder of V. Kalarani, 37, in front of No. 39, Taman Segari, Manjung, on Dec 12, 2009 at 9.30pm.
They were charged under Section 302 for murder which was read together with Section 304 for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Ramayah, who was handcuffed together with his son, was acquitted of the charge which brought cheers to some family members present in the court.
Zainal Adzam, in acquiting Ramayah, said there were two separate versions involving the accused which favoured the defence.
However, they were in tears when Nomalan was found guilty.
Nomalan, together with Ramayah, was charged with the same offence at the same time and date.
Naran said Nomalan, who was initially charged under Section 302, had his charge reduced to Section 304(B) for an act that is done with knowledge that it is likely to cause death but without intention to cause death or bodily injury.
Based on the facts of the case, a group of 20 to 24 people were involved in the scuffle resulting in the death of Kalarani.