Kallang slashings: Two on trial for murder

Two men from Sarawak, allegedly involved in a spate of violent robberies in 2010, on Thursday went on trial in the High Court for the murder of one of the victims, a construction worker from India.

But the hearing was adjourned after defence lawyers objected to evidence relating to the other robberies being admitted in the murder trial.

The lawyers for Micheal Garing, 25, and Tony Imba, 34, said that evidence relating to the three prior incidents was not helpful in establishing proof and was prejudicial to their clients.

The evidence includes statements given by the accused to the police and witness testimonies.

But the prosecution said the evidence would go to show that they both intended to cause fatal injuries to Mr Shanmuganathan Dillidurai, 41, when Micheal allegedly slashed the Indian national with a parang.

The trial was adjourned to next Tuesday for both sides to make arguments on whether the evidence should be admitted.

Micheal and Tony are accused of being in a group of four men who carried out four violent robberies from the late night of May 29 to the early hours of May 30.

The assaults led to the death of a foreign worker and seriously injured two foreign workers and a Singaporean.

The group were Sarawakians working here.

One alleged accomplice, Donny Meluda, 22, is at large.

The other, Hairee Landak, 22, was sentenced to 33 years' jail and 24 strokes of the cane in January, after he pleaded guilty to armed robbery with grievous hurt.

Hairee is a key prosecution witness in the duo's murder trial.

He is expected to testify about the fatal assault as well as the earlier robbery attacks on Mr Sandeep Singh, 27, Mr Ang Jun Heng, 22, and Mr Egan Karuppaiah, 42.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Anandan Bala told the court in his opening address on Thursday that the group had hatched a plan to commit robberies in the Geylang area.

They attacked Mr Singh at a playground, punching, kicking, slashing and hitting him on the head with a brick.

Mr Ang, then a full-time national serviceman, and Mr Egan were attacked and robbed next.

The last victim, Mr Shanmuganathan, was knocked off his bicycle, attacked and robbed of his wallet. He died at the scene.

The prosecution has lined up 76 witnesses for the murder trial, scheduled to be heard for 16 days.

Micheal and Tony face the death penalty or life imprisonment if convicted.

selinal@sph.com.sg

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