Jeffrey Tan J:

[1] Out of the blue, in the midst of the murder trial, the learned deputy prosecutor (Ahmad Zubir bin Jantan) tendered an alternative charge (P7), that was then read and explained to all three accused, who then pleaded guilty to the following offence:

Bahawa kamu bersama-sama seorang lagi yang masih bebas, pada 1 November 1999 jam lebih kurang 8.00 hingga 9.05 malam di sebuah warung makan di Jalan Sisi, dalam daerah Muar, di dalam Negeri Johor Darul Takzim, dengan memajukan niat bersama telah menyebabkan kematian R SELVAM A/L RAMAN (K/P NO: 770112-01-7239) dengan niat menyebabkan kecederaan tubuh badan yang boleh membawa kematian. Oleh yang demikian kamu telah melakukan satu kesalahan yang boleh dihukum di bawah s 304(a) Kanun Keseksaan.

[2] And after the statement of facts of the case (P8) that the learned DPP presented was read and explained to them, all three accused admitted the following: (a) at about 9.00pm. on 1 November 1999, the complainant was informed that his brother, the deceased, was attacked by several persons, (b) the complainant found the deceased in a critical state at the district hospital, (c) meantime, the 1st accused was apprehended at the