KUALA LUMPUR: Just a few minutes of losing your temper can change an entire life and result in actions that could bring a lifetime of regret.
This is what happens in most murder cases involving suspects or accused individuals who are known to the victims.
Many of these murder cases end with extreme remorse, and the perpetrator's lives change in an instant, just because of a moment of anger.
Criminologist Shahul Hamid Abdul Rahim said that losing one's judgment for just a few minutes can determine his/her fate for a lifetime.
If someone is sane and rational, it is almost impossible for him/her to commit a crime such as stabbing, slashing, strangling, or anything else with the intent to kill the victim.
He said such actions, beyond the bounds of human reasoning, are driven by intense anger.
"If we observe murder cases involving known individuals, the suspect or accused does not intend to kill the victim, but he/she is overcome by anger or unstable emotions.
As a result, the perpetrator is driven by this anger to commit the crime, and when his or her rational mind returns, it is too late to correct their actions.
"Panicked by the action committed in a rage, the perpetrator will tend to eliminate evidence and try to remove as many connections between the evidence and themselves as possible," he said.
Shahul Hamid added that there are also cases where the perpetrator, known to the victim, will be haunted by guilt for the rest of his/her lives.
He said all this happens because he/she fails to control excessive anger and unstable emotions to the extent of harming others.
The perpetrator's lives change in an instant, and he/she is labelled as 'murderer,' facing severe punishments, including possible execution.
"Not only does the perpetrator suffers from his/her actions, but those around him/her, his/her family members, and acquaintances are also affected.
"Family members will feel the shame of facing society knowing that one of their own is a murderer. All these are long-term effects just because the person lost his/her mind for a few minutes, which destroyed the person's entire life," he said.