Birthday present for alleged murderer

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Popy Wahyuni gave a birthday present here on Thursday to her boyfriend Muhammad Ferizal Batubara, or Ical, the 17-year-old accused of bludgeoning his parents and four of his siblings to death with a hammer in October.

Antara quoted Ical's lawyer Abdul Rahman as saying from the local district court that the present, a notepad, was delivered to his client by Popy's sister, Lia, just before a session at the Medan District Court.

"The present is wrapped in white paper and Popy wrote 'love' on it," Abdul said, adding that Ical was touched by the present and Popy's request that he write down his experiences in jail. (byg)