Duke tragedy trial begins on Tuesday

The Traffic Court here was told today that the tragic accident at Duta-Ulu Klang Expressway (DUKE) on May 2 in which three members of a family perished, occurred around midnight and not early morning.

The prosecution applied to amend the time of the accident in the charge against Siti Noor Aini Mohd Said, 36, and Mohammad Fizal Reza Jamauddin, 31, at the commencement of the trial before Magistrate Noorul Fhaiez Mohd Nayan today.

The amended charge read that the duo stand accused of causing death by reckless driving, of Fairuz Nizam Husain, 35, and his wife Nova Safitri Azhari, 27, and their daughter Nur Firuza Annisa, aged six months.

They allegedly committed the offence at km 6, DUKE (from Ulu Klang to Jalan Duta) between 12.31 am and 12.35 am on May 2.

The original charge sheet stated that they committed the offence at 1.05 am on May 2.

Meanwhile, the prosecution's first witness, Corporal Ahmad Fauzi Taha testified that he was informed of the incident through a call at 1.05 am by Lance Corporal Zulkifli.

The Tun H.S Lee Traffic Police Station Team A Information Counter supervisor said Zulkifli, from the station's operations room, informed him that the accident involved two cars, a Myvi and a Pajero.

"I was told that the driver of the Pajero died at the scene; his wife and daughter were escorted to hospital in an ambulance," said the witness.

Third prosecution witness Corporal Mohd Harris Apandi, a photographer at the same police station said he took 23 photographs at the scene.

He said he was instructed to take three photographs of the victims at the location and 20 other photographs of the scene, vehicles and tyre marks on the road.

Siti Noor Aini and Mohammad Fizal Reza were represented by counsel Omar Bakri Ahmad and S.N. Seelan respectively, while C. Leo Camoens held a watching brief for the victims' family.

The prosecution was represented by deputy public prosecutor Suhaimi Ibrahim and Nadiah Malek Fauzie.

The trial continues tomorrow.