PS Gill JCA:

On 23 May 2003, we heard and dismissed the appeal of the 1st and 2nd appellants and allowed the appeal of the 3rd appellant. We indicated that we would state our reasons for doing so at a later date. 1st and 2nd appellants have filed an appeal against our decision to dismiss their appeal. The public prosecutor has also filed an appeal against our decision to allow the appeal of the 3rd appellant.

The three appellants were convicted and sentenced to death on 13 June 2000 by the learned trial judge on the following charges:

1. WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN PERBICARAAN JENAYAH BIL.45-4-98

PERTUDUHAN

Bahawa kamu bersama-sama seorang lagi yang masih bebas pada 20.2.1997 jam lebih kurang 11.15 malam, di kedai No. 432, Tingkat 1, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, dalam daerah Dang Wangi, dalam Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, di dalam meneruskan niat bersama kamu seperti yang ditakrifkan di bawah seksyan 34 Kanun Keseksaan, telah melakukan bunuh dengan menyebabkan kematian terhadap Yong Seong Fong, Kad Pengenalan 561123-10-5815 dan dengan itu kamu telah melakukan satu kesalahan yang boleh dihukum di bawah seksyan 302 Kanun Keseksaan.

2. WILAYAH PERICARAAN JENAYAH BIL. 45-5-98

Bahawa kamu bersama-sama seorang lagi yang masih bebas, pada 20.2.1997 jam lebih kurang 11.15 malam, di kedai No. 432, Tingkat 1, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, dalam daerah Dang Wangi, dalam Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, di dalam meneruskan niat bersama kamu seperti yang ditakrifkan di bawah seksyen 34 Kanun Keseksaan, telah melakukan bunuh dengan menyebabkan kematian terhadap Yong Seong Fatt, Kad Pengenalan 4660815 dan dengan itu kamu telah melakukan satu kesalahan yang boleh dihukum di bawah seksyen 302 Kanun Keseksaan.

3. WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN PERBICARAAN BIL. 45-6-98

Bahawa kamu bersama-sama seorang lagi yang masih bebas, pada 20.2.1997 jam lebih kurang 11.15 malam, di kedai No. 432, Tingkat 1, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman dalam daerah Dang Wangi, dalam Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, di dalam meneruskan niat bersama kamu seperti yang ditakrifkan di bawah seksyen 34 Kanun Keseksaan, telah melakukan bunuh dengan menyebabkan kematian terhadap Yong How Fei, Kad Pengenalan 780516-14-5789. dengan itu kamu telah melakukan satu kesalahan yang boleh dihukum di bawah seksyen 302 Kanun Keseksaan.

The brief facts of the case are as follows. The murder of three persons took place on the 1st Floor of No. 432, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman on 20 February 1997 at about 11.15pm. A group of blacks entered a beauty saloon. A young man namely Yong Seong Fatt was resting in the saloon when he was set upon by the group of assailants with a chopper and as a result of injuries inflicted on him he died.

The group then traversed through the saloon through a flight of stairs and entered into a shop selling watches and leather goods. Thereafter, the group continued their rampage, attacked and killed Yong How Fei and Yong Seong Fong. The group's callous attack continued when they moved on to slash the head of Goh Kim Soo (PW7) and Lam Yin Choy (PW8). Both PW7 and PW8 survived the ordeal and testified in court about the gruesome events of that night.

Suffice to say, much of the prosecution's case rested on the evidence of PW7 and PW8, particularly that of PW8. The evidence of PW8 was as to the identity of the 1st and 2nd appellant who murdered the persons named in the charge on 20 February 1997. It must be borne in mind that one of the persons involved in the killing of the deceased persons on the night in question is still at large.

In the context of the identification evidence of both these witnesses PW7 and PW8 relating to the 1st and 2nd appellant much was made by both their respective counsel as regards the quality of the identification evidence, bearing in mind, counsel contended, the extenuating circumstances in which the identification was made as regards both the 1st and 2nd appellant.

We did bear in mind, that in cases where the evidence against an accused depends wholly or su