Sosilawati murder trial: Counsel withdraws from case

The High Court hearing the murder case of cosmetic millionairess Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya and three others, on Tuesday, was stunned when lawyer Ravi Nekoo informed the court that he was withdrawing from

representing the fourth accused, R.Kathavarayan.

Ravi said he decided to withdraw from the case on grounds that Kathavarayan's testimony in court differed from what was told to him before that.

Kathavarayan, together with N.Pathmanabhan, 43, T.Thilaiyalagan, 21, and R.Matan, 22, have been ordered to enter their defence on a charge of murdering Sosilawati, 47, bank officer Noorhisham Mohamad, 38, lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim, 32, and Sosilawati's driver, Kamaruddin Shamsuddin, 44.

They were charged with committing the offence at Ladang Gadong, Lot 2001, Jalan Tanjong Layang, Tanjung Sepat, Banting between 8.30pm and 9.45pm on Aug 30, 2010.

The charge, under Section 302 of the Penal Code, carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.

Earlier, during examination-in-chief by Ravi, Kathavarayan told the court that Pathmanabhan came to Ladang Gadong with his friends about 7pm on Aug 30, 2010, which contradicted the testimony by Thilaiyalagan and Matan in court previously.

According to Thilaiyalagan and Matan, Pathmanabhan did not go to the farm on that day.

Prior to this, Pathmanabhan had also told the court that he was not at the farm between 8.30pm and 9.45pm on Aug 30, 2010 when the alleged murders took place.

Kathavarayan said he saw Pathmanabhan and his friends leaving the farm at about 8pm that day.

Questioned by Ravi whether he knew Pathmanabhan's friends, Kathavarayan said he knew two or three of them because they had met before, but did not know their names.

He said five of them were Malays and there was a Chinese and an Indian.

Ravi : How did they go to the farm?

Kathavarayan : In three cars, but I can't remember the colour or the car type.

Ravi : Where did they go to at the farm?

Kathavarayan : When they arrived, they parked the cars near a hut in front of my house. Then, they talked in the living room. what car or the colour.," asked Ravi

Ravi then asked for a short adjournment and the prosecution and defence were then seen entering the judge's chambers.

When proceeding resumed, Ravi informed Judge Datuk Akhtar Tahir that he had no choice, but to withdraw from representing Kathavarayan.

In allowing Ravi's request, Akhtar said it would not be fair for force Ravi to continue with the case if he was not prepared.

"Since this case involves the mandatory death sentence, I advise the fourth accused to appoint a lawyer, unless he does not want to be represented," he said and gave Kathavarayan until tomorrow to decide.

He also ordered Kathavarayan to be isolated from the other accused until he had completed giving his testimony.