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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Borneo student killings: Accused denies knife attack | Borneo student killings: Accused denies knife attack |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A Malaysian man accused of stabbing to death two British medical students has admitted attacking one of them, but denied using a knife. | A Malaysian man accused of stabbing to death two British medical students has admitted attacking one of them, but denied using a knife. |
| Newcastle University students Aidan Brunger and Neil Dalton, both 22, were stabbed in a bar in Kuching in August. | Newcastle University students Aidan Brunger and Neil Dalton, both 22, were stabbed in a bar in Kuching in August. |
| Fishmonger Zulkipli Abdullah, 24, is accused of their murder, but told a judge in Borneo that he only punched one of them. | Fishmonger Zulkipli Abdullah, 24, is accused of their murder, but told a judge in Borneo that he only punched one of them. |
| If convicted, Mr Zulkipli faces a mandatory sentence of death by hanging. | If convicted, Mr Zulkipli faces a mandatory sentence of death by hanging. |
| Mr Dalton, from Ambergate, Derbyshire, and Mr Brunger, from Hempstead, Kent, had almost completed a work placement at a hospital in Kuching. | Mr Dalton, from Ambergate, Derbyshire, and Mr Brunger, from Hempstead, Kent, had almost completed a work placement at a hospital in Kuching. |
| They were found sprawled in the road by cafe workers in the early hours of 6 August last year. | They were found sprawled in the road by cafe workers in the early hours of 6 August last year. |
| The BBC's Malaysia correspondent Jennifer Pak said: "Mr Zulkipli admitted in an unsworn statement from the dock that he and two others ganged up on the British men. | The BBC's Malaysia correspondent Jennifer Pak said: "Mr Zulkipli admitted in an unsworn statement from the dock that he and two others ganged up on the British men. |
| "But he insisted that he only punched one of them and did not use a knife. | "But he insisted that he only punched one of them and did not use a knife. |
| "He said it was unfair for him to be the only one charged in the killings." | "He said it was unfair for him to be the only one charged in the killings." |
| 'Smelled blood' | 'Smelled blood' |
| Mr Zulkipli's parents, who were in court to hear the first of defence evidence, said they did not believe their son stabbed the pair. | Mr Zulkipli's parents, who were in court to hear the first of defence evidence, said they did not believe their son stabbed the pair. |
| Mr Zulkipli's statement said: "It was impossible for me to fight with and stab the two foreigners, who are so much taller, bigger and stronger than me. | Mr Zulkipli's statement said: "It was impossible for me to fight with and stab the two foreigners, who are so much taller, bigger and stronger than me. |
| "I did not stab any of the foreigners, except that I did punch one of the foreigners." | |
| He also denied telling friends that the blood of the two students "smelled very nice". | He also denied telling friends that the blood of the two students "smelled very nice". |
| He added: "This is not true because I would not know the smell of the blood of an Englishman or for that matter, the blood of any nationality." | He added: "This is not true because I would not know the smell of the blood of an Englishman or for that matter, the blood of any nationality." |
| Mr Zulkipli said he had been out with two friends "visiting pubs and looking for girls" and was not carrying a knife at the time. | Mr Zulkipli said he had been out with two friends "visiting pubs and looking for girls" and was not carrying a knife at the time. |
| He said the trio got into an argument with the students and pursued them in a car, before fighting with them in the street. | He said the trio got into an argument with the students and pursued them in a car, before fighting with them in the street. |
| He said: "I did not take the knife from my back pocket and stab the foreigner. I merely punched him. | He said: "I did not take the knife from my back pocket and stab the foreigner. I merely punched him. |
| "During the struggle I did not stab anyone with any weapon." | "During the struggle I did not stab anyone with any weapon." |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |