TAWAU: The trial of e-hailing driver Nurman Bakaratu's murder case took an unexpected turn at the High Court today with the shocking testimony of the main prosecution witness Nurimah Juli.
The 23rd witness, who is also the victim's former wife, confessed in court that she was the one who killed Nurman on Anjur Juara Road, Batu 5 Jalan Apas, at around 8pm on Jan 13 last year.
During the cross-examination, the 35-year-old woman revealed that she stabbed the victim with scissors taken from her bag during a heated argument with her former husband.
She said the incident took place in a Myvi car and there was no one else at the scene except the two of them.
This revelation led to the acquittal of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscomm) intelligence chief, Datuk Mat Zaki Md Zain, six police officers, and a civilian from the charge of killing Nurman.
High Court Judge Datuk Duncan Sikodol, in his decision, acquitted all eight accused of the charges.
Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Khairul Azreem Mamat informed that they would not proceed with the prosecution against all accused under Section 254 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
This followed the latest development in the trial, entering its eighth day today.
On July 7 last year, Mat Zaki, 58, was brought to court on a charge of murdering the e-hailing driver.
He was accused of conspiring with John Kennedy Sanggah to murder Nurman Bakaratu, 61, in an oil palm plantation near Jalan Anjur Juara, Jalan Apas Batu 5, Tawau between 7.30pm and 11.30pm on Jan 13 last year.
The prosecution was carried out under Section 109 of the Penal Code and Section 302.
Prior to that, on Feb 8, Mat Zaki was also charged with conspiring with six other accused, namely Rosdi Rastam, 44; Denis Anit, 44; Fabian Rungam, 43; Khairul Azman Bakar, 47; Mohd Azlan Sakaran, 39; and Vivien Fabian, 34, to murder Nurman at the same place and time.
Earlier today, lawyer Datuk Ansari Abdullah representing Rosdi (the first accused) requested the court to discharge and acquit his client after all 23 prosecution witnesses were called, and they had been in custody for a full year.
Lawyer Datuk Ram Singh also made the same request for his client's sons, Mat Zaki, John, Vivien, Khairul Azman, and Mohd Azlan.
Lawyer Luke Ressa Balang and lawyer Mohamed Zairi Zainal Abidin also made the same request for their respective clients' children, Dennis Ak Enit and Fabian Ak Rungan.
The court then ordered all accused to be released and acquitted, and the trial date was cancelled.
Meanwhile, there was a jubilant atmosphere inside and outside the court with tears of joy among the families of the accused and their lawyers.