IPOH: "All I demand is justice," said E. Philomena, 59.
Her husband S. Thava Sagayam, 64, who worked as a security guard at a condominium, was assaulted by a homestay guest on Dec 29. He died on Friday.
"I could forgive the man who assaulted him should he came to us and apologise, but he didn't. Nobody from his side did. Now my husband is dead," she said when met at her home in Taman Buntong Ria here today.
Philomena said it was hard for her to accept the way her husband died as he was a very healthy man.
"I stayed by my husband's side when he died at home. It was about 3am and I didn't have any credit left (on her mobile data plan) to make an emergency call. I saw him gasping for air.
"That's when I knew he would leave. I cried and held his hand that was freezing cold. I stayed with him for hours and only informed my neighbour of his passing later," she said.
Philomena described her husband as a loving and a very understanding man.
Thava, who sustained injuries after the assault, was taken to Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB) and was discharged two days before he died.
"He had eight surgeries in total. A part of his right skull had to be removed due to the injuries and he couldn't talk after that.
"At the hospital, the doctors told me that my husband's condition had worsened and that there was no hope for his survival. After he was discharged, we only had two days together," said Philomena who works at a factory nearby here.
"Now that my husband is gone, all I demand is justice. The man (suspected of the assault) is still free and I am here grieving over the passing of my husband. That is unfair. I'm suffering," she said.
The case has been reclassified under Section 302 of the Penal Code as murder.
"I am still very much traumatised by the incident. Every time I watch the video of him being assaulted (which has gone viral), I can't stop crying. I am so angry," she said, adding she hopes police will nab the suspect soon.
On Saturday, Perak police chief Datuk Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said the victim died at his home due to sepsis, caused by infection in his lungs.
It was reported that the security guard sustained head injuries in the Dec 29 incident after being assaulted by the guest, following an argument.
The video of the incident has recently gone viral on social media.
It was reported that the security guard was found by a worker at the condominium bleeding from his head and was rushed to the HRPB in a semi-conscious state.