Johorean Woman Escapes Capital Punishment for Killing Husband As She Was a Minor At The Time

By Lara Kramer  •  11 Apr 2022 in News

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22-year-old Nur Hidayah Abdullah was pardoned for a murder she committed five years ago when Judicial Commissioner Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud found that the defence had not provided reasonable doubt against the case.

Initially, she was charged under Section 302 for killing her husband, a 28-year-old poultry shop assistant, at his employer’s home in Taman Pertama Indah on the afternoon of October 14, 2017.

The woman allegedly stabbed her husband with a vegetable knife, five months after they were married.

The Muar High Court released an order for her to be jailed until pardoned by the Sultan of Johor instead.

Awang Armadajaya explained his decision by saying, “Because on the date of the incident you were 17 years 11 months and 10 days old, you still were defined as a minor under the Child Act 2001.”

He added that she would have been sent to the gallows, had she been an adult at the time.

“Thank God you are saved from the death penalty. I pray that you lead a better life after this, and bring benefit to your family and the society. I have heard your lawyer’s appeal stating that your life has been full of sorrow,” he added.

He also clarified that she could submit an appeal in regards to her sentence to the Pardon’s Board and the Sultan of Johor.

The prosecution commenced in 2017, whereby the testimonies of prosecution witnesses and two defence witnesses, including the litigant’s stepfather were recorded.

Two deputy public prosecutors, Muhammad Azfar Mahmod and Mustaqim Sukarno, represented the prosecution while lawyer Yoong How Kiat spoke for the defence.