The following is a chronology of events starting from when 47-year-old cosmetics millionaire Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya and her three companions—bank officer Noorhisham Mohamad, lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim, and driver Kamaruddin Shamsuddin—were reported missing on Aug 30, 2010.
Aug 30, 2010: Sosilawati, along with Noorhisham, Ahmad Kamil, and Kamaruddin, was reported missing after going to Banting for a land transaction.
Sept 6, 2010: The black BMW X5 SUV, registration number WTL 11, used by Sosilawati on the day she was reported missing, was discovered in the parking lot of Angsana Flats, USJ Apartments, Subang Jaya. Meanwhile, the black BMW with registration number AAJ 5, belonging to Ahmad Kamil, was found near a two-story terrace house close to the Grand Dorsett Hotel, Subang Jaya.
Sept 9, 2010: Five suspects were arrested at a farm in Banting.
Sept 11, 2010: A lawyer with the title "Datuk" and his brother, also a lawyer, were arrested to assist in the investigation.
Sept 12, 2010: Then-Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Zinin confirmed that all four individuals were brutally murdered, burned at a farm, and their ashes thrown into a nearby river..
Oct 13, 2010: N. Pathmanabhan, along with T. Thilaiyalagan, R. Matan, and R. Kathavarayan, were brought to the Telok Datok Magistrate's Court in Banting, on charges of murdering Sosilawati, Noorhisham, Ahmad Kamil, and Kamaruddin.
Oct 15, 2010: The Telok Datok Magistrate's Court sentenced U. Suresh and K. Sarawanan to seven years in prison after they pleaded guilty to destroying evidence in the murder.
Feb 21, 2011: The Shah Alam High Court increased the prison sentences of Suresh and Sarawanan from seven to 20 years for disposing of evidence in the murder.
July 4, 2011: The murder trial began at the Shah Alam High Court.
April 30, 2012: High Court Judge Datuk Akhtar Tahir ordered Pathmanabhan, Thilaiyalagan, Matan, and Kathavarayan to defend themselves against the charge of murdering Sosilawati, Noorhisham, Ahmad Kamil, and Kamaruddin after the prosecution successfully established a prima facie case.
May 23, 2013: Judge Akhtar sentenced all four accused to death after finding them guilty of murdering Sosilawati, Noorhisham, Ahmad Kamil, and Kamaruddin.
Dec 4, 2015: The Court of Appeal unanimously rejected the appeal by Pathmanaban, Thilaiyalagan, Matan, and Kathavarayan, against their conviction and death sentence for the murder of Sosilawati and three others.
March 16, 2017: The Federal Court affirmed the lower court's decision against Pathmanaban, Thilaiyalagan, and Kathavarayan for their conviction and sentence. However, the top court acquitted Matan citing that both the High Court and Court of Appeal had erred in convicting him and affirming his conviction and death sentence.