GOMBAK: A security guard and his wife have been charged with murdering the woman's eight-year-old daughter at the Selayang Magistrates Court.
The accused, Mohamad Zulhelmy Amirrudin, 29, and Norfazira Radzi, 30, only nodded when the charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code was read to them before Magistrate Chai Guan Hock.
No plea was recorded as the case falls under the High Court's purview.
The couple is accused of murdering Nur Anissa Afiera Muhamad Zulhafize in an apartment in Bandar Tasik Puteri, Rawang, between 11.51am and 3.51pm on Aug 17.
If found guilty, they face a death sentence or imprisonment for up to 40 years. If a person is not sentenced to death, they will receive at least 12 strokes of the cane.
Prosecution was handled by deputy public prosecutor Nor Izairah Zainal while the accused were not represented.
The court set Oct 16 for case remention and did not allow bail for the accused.
Earlier, Nur Anissa's family members were seen screaming at the accused as they were brought to court.
"What have you done to our niece, we want justice," they could be heard saying.
It was previously reported that an eight-year-old girl died after being kicked and beaten, including with a belt, hangar and a blunt object.
She had suffered injuries to her face, lips, mouth, chin and thighs.
Her mother and stepfather were later arrested from an apartment in Bandar Tasik Puteri.