MALAYSIA: HOUSEWIFE APPEALS SENTENCE AFTER 6 YEARS ON DEATH ROW

a housewife on death row in Malaysia appealed her sentence because the trial judge delayed writing the grounds of judgment. Lawyer Karpal Singh told the Court of Appeal that the trial judge also misapplied the law in sentencing R. Amathevelli to death after she was found guilty of murder because inadmissible evidence was admitted during the trial. Amathevelli, who is appealing against the conviction and sentence, was ordered to be sent to the gallows by the trial judge on Nov 8, 2001, for murdering sundry shop proprietor A. Soosaiammah, at Kampung Gatco, Air Hitam, Jempol, on May 17, 1998. Karpal said Amathevelli, 51, has been in jail for nine years and seven months, including three years under remand.
Judge Datuk Mohd Wira Mohd Ghazali Mohd Yusoff, who sat with judges Datuk Raus Sharif and Datuk Heliliah Mohd Yusof, said the court would reserve its judgment but would deliver it soon.