KUCHING: The Court of Appeal today affirmed a local youth’s death sentence for murdering his father by slashing the victim’s throat with a machete after the 2018 New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Sylvester Indo’s appeal for his conviction and death sentence was dismissed by a panel of three Court of Appeal judges composed of Datuk Has Zanah Mehat, Datuk Seri Mariana Yahya, and Datuk Supang Lian.
Sylvester, 31, filed an appeal on August 19, 2019, against the High Court’s ruling, which sentenced him to death after finding him guilty of killing his 65-year-old father at Rumah Panjang Tanjong, Long Pawah, Belaga, at 4 a.m. on January 1, 2018.
Previously, Bintulu High Court Judge Datuk Duncan Sikodol sentenced the appellant to death by hanging after he was found guilty under Penal Code Section 302.
According to the circumstances of the case, the longhouse residents were planning a New Year’s Eve celebration on December 31, 2017.
Chief Micheal Nyaleng, the third witness, awoke at 4 a.m. on January 1, 2018, after hearing commotion outside the longhouse.
He witnessed Sylvester (appellant) arguing with Salleh Pago, one of the longhouse residents.
Micheal tried to stop them, advising them not to fight and to go home because they were inebriated.
Sylvester returned to the scene with a machete to attack Micheal, but instead hit Salleh, who was standing next to the appellant.
Micheal, who was tending to Salleh’s wounds, then noticed Sylvester sitting on his father’s (victim’s) chest and slitting the victim’s neck with the machete.
Micheal, who was taken aback by the appellant’s conduct, yelled at him to stop, but the appellant retreated into the surrounding forest.
Furthermore, the chief observed the victim’s body on the floor, motionless and covered in blood.
Following the incident, Micheal and several other longhouse residents filed a police report in order for additional action and inquiry to take place.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Ku Hayati Ku Haron, while the appellant was represented by Rosli Gapor and Harold Emparak Kerebo.
