KUALA LUMPUR – There was much drama ahead of the highly anticipated appearance of a former postman accused of brutally murdering 32-year-old single mother Mira Sharmila Samsusah (Bella) at the Batu Pahat magistrate court today.
The courthouse was packed to the rafters with police, reporters, as well as dozens of Bella’s family members, who brought posters pleading for justice.
Bella’s mother, Noraini Salleh, 55, and her sister, Norhisham, 36, were reported to be at the courthouse as early as 8am.
Bella’s boyfriend, Mohammad Haikal Mahfuz, 24, accused of brutally murdering the single mother, arrived at court at 8.20am under heavy police escort before being charged with murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
No plea was recorded as the case will be transferred to the high court.
According to the charge read to him, Haikal is accused of killing Bella between 11am on December 14 and 5.30am the next day.
The offence was perpetuated between Jalan Kelapa Bali, Taman Soga and Jalan Parit Besar, Kg Parit Besar, as well as an abandoned house in Lorong Imam Jailani, Jalan Besar in Batu Pahat.
The court has set February 19 for case mention while awaiting the chemical analysis report.
He was the one who led the police to the remains in the Tongkang Pechah house.
The police have been investigating the disappearance of Mira until human bones were found in an abandoned house in Lorong Imam Jailani, Kampung Batu 7 in Tongkang Pechah, Batu Pahat, last Friday.
DNA tests have confirmed that the remains belong to Mira, who is also known as Bella. Analysis showed a biological match between the samples taken from the skeleton and Bella’s older sister and mother.
Bella was last seen leaving her house in her boyfriend’s car at 11.50pm on December 14 last year to go to a nearby laundrette.
The prosecution is represented by deputy public prosecutor Siti Khalijah Khalid while the accused is represented by lawyer Syahril Anuar. – January 24, 2024