IPOH: The defence trial of a deputy superintendent charged with the murder of a 17-year-old male student last year has been postponed to tomorrow after his lawyer withdrew from the case.
Defence counsel M. Athimulan informed High Court Judge Datuk Bhupindar Singh Gurcharan Singh Preet that he had been officially appointed by the accused, Mohd Nazri Abdul Razak, 45 this morning.
"We only took over the case this morning and have been handed 30 witness statements and a bundle of documents from the previous counsel that we need to review," he told the court.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz said the prosecution was informed of the change this morning and had no objections to it.
Bhupindar then granted the request for a postponement, and the trial will resume tomorrow morning.
The prosecution team includes Nasrul Hadi Abdul Ghani, V. Suloshani, and Low Qin Hui.
In addition to Athimulan, Mohd Nazri is represented by counsel Datuk Meor Faridalathrash Wahid and Aiman Hakim Kamaruzzaman.
Also present was lawyer Datuk Wan Azmir Wan Majid, holding a watching brief on behalf of the victim's family.
Previously, the accused was represented by counsel Jacky Loi Yap Loong, Lim Chi Chau, Lim Jin Wen, Cindy Wong, and M. Kuhan.
When met outside the courtroom, Athimulan said he was not aware of the reason the previous counsel withdrew from representing the accused.
"We have been engaged, so they have been discharged. It is the accused's right to appoint his lawyer.
"Therefore, I requested an adjournment to postpone the trial until tomorrow morning so that we are better prepared," he said.
On May 14, Bhupindar set the trial dates from Nov 4 to 8; Nov 11 to 15; Dec 2 to 6; Dec 9 to 13; Jan 6 to 10; and Jan 13 to 17.
On Dec 18, last year, the senior police officer, with the rank of deputy superintendent, was charged in the magistrate's court here with the murder of the student.
According to the charges, the accused is alleged to have murdered Muhammad Zaharif Affendi Muhd Zamrie, 17, on Jalan Taman Jati 1, near Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Jati in the Kinta district, between 11.45am and 12.40pm on Dec 15, 2023.
He is charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which is punishable by death or imprisonment for between 30 and 40 years, with not less than 12 strokes, if found guilty.