TAIPING, April 3 — Four family members, including the biological mother, were charged in the Magistrate’s Court here today with the murder of an eight-year-old girl last week.

M. Savathri, 28, her husband M. Satis Kumar, 27, who is also the victim’s stepfather, the victim’s stepmother S.C. Veeraletchumy, 53, and stepfather M. Murali, 49, nodded after the charges were read out separately to them before Magistrate R. Prabakaran. 

However, no plea was recorded from any of the accused, as murder cases fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

According to the charge, they are jointly accused of causing the death of the child, Thanavitha, at a house in Taman Sungai Mas in the Larut, Matang and Selama district on the morning of March 26.

The charge, framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code and read together with Section 34, carries the death penalty or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years and, if not sentenced to death, not fewer than 12 strokes of the cane upon conviction.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Farihah Adilah Faizal conducted the prosecution. All the accused were unrepresented, while lawyers M. Dinesh, G. Devaneson and Low Tze Ken held a watching brief for the victim’s family.

Family members who had cared for the child since she was six months old, before she was returned to her biological mother, were present in court to observe the proceedings.

The court set May 15 for mention pending the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), forensic and post-mortem reports. — Bernama