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Kim Jong-nam murder trial: two suspects await key Malaysia court ruling Kim Jong-nam murder trial: two suspects await key Malaysia court ruling
(about 2 hours later)
A Malaysian judge will deliver a key ruling today in the trial of two women accused of the assassination of Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korea’s leader, with their families hopeful they will be cleared.A Malaysian judge will deliver a key ruling today in the trial of two women accused of the assassination of Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korea’s leader, with their families hopeful they will be cleared.
The court will decide whether there is sufficient evidence to support a murder charge against Siti Aisyah from Indonesia and Doan Thi Huong from Vietnam, who are accused of killing Kim at Kuala Lumpur airport in February last year.The court will decide whether there is sufficient evidence to support a murder charge against Siti Aisyah from Indonesia and Doan Thi Huong from Vietnam, who are accused of killing Kim at Kuala Lumpur airport in February last year.
If the judge decides there is sufficient evidence, the trial will continue with the court hearing the women’s defence. Otherwise, the judge could acquit the women or amend the charge to something less serious than murder, which carries a mandatory death sentence in Malaysia.If the judge decides there is sufficient evidence, the trial will continue with the court hearing the women’s defence. Otherwise, the judge could acquit the women or amend the charge to something less serious than murder, which carries a mandatory death sentence in Malaysia.
If they are acquitted, they may not be freed right away as prosecutors could appeal as well as push forward with separate charges for overstaying their visas.If they are acquitted, they may not be freed right away as prosecutors could appeal as well as push forward with separate charges for overstaying their visas.
The women arrived at the court in Sham Alam, outside Kuala Lumpur, under heavy police guard and wearing bullet proof vests, and were ushered past a pack of waiting journalists.
Huong “could never be a killer as she had always been a charming, hard-working girl”, Doan Van Thanh, the Vietnamese suspect’s father, told AFP.Huong “could never be a killer as she had always been a charming, hard-working girl”, Doan Van Thanh, the Vietnamese suspect’s father, told AFP.
The women are accused of killing Kim – the estranged relative of regime leader Kim Jong-un – by smearing toxic nerve agent VX on his face as he waited to board a flight to Macau.The women are accused of killing Kim – the estranged relative of regime leader Kim Jong-un – by smearing toxic nerve agent VX on his face as he waited to board a flight to Macau.
The pair say they fell victim to an elaborate murder plot hatched by North Korean agents, and believed they were taking part in a prank for a reality TV show.The pair say they fell victim to an elaborate murder plot hatched by North Korean agents, and believed they were taking part in a prank for a reality TV show.
Describing the murder as something out of a James Bond movie, state prosecutors argue the pair were well-trained assassins who knew exactly what they were doing.Describing the murder as something out of a James Bond movie, state prosecutors argue the pair were well-trained assassins who knew exactly what they were doing.
The trial at the Shah Alam high court, outside Kuala Lumpur, heard that four North Koreans recruited the pair and were the masterminds, providing them with the poison on the day of the murder before flying out of the country.The trial at the Shah Alam high court, outside Kuala Lumpur, heard that four North Koreans recruited the pair and were the masterminds, providing them with the poison on the day of the murder before flying out of the country.
The women’s defence teams have argued the pair are scapegoats, with the authorities unable to catch the real killers, the North Koreans, and therefore desperate to secure some kind of conviction in the case.The women’s defence teams have argued the pair are scapegoats, with the authorities unable to catch the real killers, the North Koreans, and therefore desperate to secure some kind of conviction in the case.
The lawyers say they are confident the pair will be acquitted of murder, insisting that prosecutors have not shown they intended to kill Kim, who was heir apparent to the North Korean leadership before he fell from grace and went on to live in exile.The lawyers say they are confident the pair will be acquitted of murder, insisting that prosecutors have not shown they intended to kill Kim, who was heir apparent to the North Korean leadership before he fell from grace and went on to live in exile.
However, if one or both of the women are cleared, they will not necessarily walk free immediately. Prosecutors could seek to appeal the ruling, and the authorities could still hold them over alleged visa violations.However, if one or both of the women are cleared, they will not necessarily walk free immediately. Prosecutors could seek to appeal the ruling, and the authorities could still hold them over alleged visa violations.
MalaysiaMalaysia
North KoreaNorth Korea
Kim Jong-unKim Jong-un
Asia PacificAsia Pacific
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