SEREMBAN: A farmer was acquitted by the Seremban High Court today of charges related to the murder of a woman, his aunt, four years ago.
Judge Datuk Rohani Ismail made the decision after the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the accused, G. Gobinathan, 48.
Gobinathan was charged with the murder of A.Nirmala, 51, at a house in Ayer Hitam, Jempol, between 7.30pm on March 3 and 3.30am on March 4, 2021.
The charge, under Section 302 of the Penal Code, carries the death penalty upon conviction.
The trial commenced in November last year, during which 13 witnesses were summoned to testify.
Gobinathan was represented by lawyers Haresh Mahadevan and Ramzani Idris, while deputy public prosecutor Khairunnisa Hazwani Omar appeared for the prosecution.
Upon his acquittal, Gobinathan expressed immense relief, describing the verdict as a 'Deepavali gift' for his 75-year-old mother.
He said he had been imprisoned for four years in Seremban Prison, waiting for the trial's conclusion.
"I can't wait to go home to Bandar Seri Jempol and tell my mother I am free.
"My thoughts are only with her, and I have no words to express my gratitude," he said.
According to the facts of the case, Nirmala had assisted Gobinathan with his work on the farm, and they lived together in the house.