Sosilawati murder: Ex-lawyer and accomplices sentenced to death

Former lawyer N.Pathmanabhan and his three accomplices who worked at his farm have been sentenced to death by the High Court.

The judgement was made after they were convicted murdered millionaire beautician Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya and her three friends in Ladang Gadong, Banting on August 30, 2010.

Judge Datuk Akhtar Tahir said he was satisfied that the defence had failed to raise a reasonable doubt in the prosecution's case against former lawyer Pathmanabhan and his three farm workers, T. Thilaiyalagan, R. Matan and R. Kathavarayan.

They were charged with the murder of Sosilawati, 47, bank officer Noorhisham Mohamad, 38, lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim, 32, and Sosilawati's driver Kamaruddin Shamsuddin, 44, at Lot 2001, Jalan Tanjong Layang, Tanjung Sepat, in Banting between 8.30 pm and 9.45 pm on Aug 30, 2010.

They were charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, read with Section 34 of the same code, which provides for the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.

A total of 108 prosecution and 30 defence witnesses took the stand and 742 exhibits were tendered.