Singaporean Sentenced To Death For Stepson's Murder

JOHOR BAHARU (Johor, Malaysia) , Nov 18 (Bernama) -- A Singaporean was sentenced to death by the High Court here today after he was found guilty of murdering his stepson three years ago. Judicial Commissioner Samsudin Hassan handed down the sentence on Shawal Senin, 35, after finding that the defence had failed to raise reasonable doubts on the prosecution's case. Shawal, an unemployed, was charged with murdering seven-year-old Siwakorn Sukuntha, a Thai national, at Block A, Pulai View Condominium, Taman Kobena near Tampoi, between 9pm on Dec 24, 2008 and about 1pm on Dec 27, 2008. The offence, under Section 302 of the Penal Code, carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction. Deputy public prosecutor Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan and Jasmee Hameeza Jaafar prosecuted, while lawyer Amy Law represented Shawal. --BERNAMA