Final plea made in love tryst murder

JAKARTA (JP): Defense lawyers told a court yesterday that a murder suspect is innocent and asked that he be acquitted of all charges.

Paskalis Pieter, who led the team of lawyers, told the Central Jakarta district court that suspect Erfiandi Taufik, 28, had not planned to kill victim Lukman Lijas, 58.

"It was a pressing situation, the suspect was confused and the gun exploded when victim Lukman pulled Erfiandi's hand after he refused to continue driving," lawyers said in their 42-page defense.

Victim Lukman Lijas was shot in the head in his Volvo car on Jl. Letjen. Suprapto in East Jakarta at around 2 p.m. on Dec. 31 last year.

A triangle of love affairs between suspect Erfiandi, victim Lukman and witness Yunita Aristina, 25, underlies the case, Pieter added, citing emotional reasons as the cause of the irrational behavior.

Victim Lukman had threatened and intimidated suspect Erfiandi with death if he continued his romantic involvement with Yunita, lawyers said in Erfiandi's defense.

In previous hearings Erfiandi said that he borrowed the gun and took along three bullets on the night as protection for the loss of confidence he experienced after the victim's intimidation. He stressed he had no intention of killing Lukman.

When Erfiandi failed to find Yunita at her residence in Kelapa Gading in East Jakarta, Erfiandi decided to return to the hotel where he was lodging.

Lukman, who was at Yunita's house, then offered Erfiandi a ride.

When they arrived at Jl. Letjen. Suprapto in East Jakarta, Erfiandi asked Lukman to drive the car to Puncak instead so that the two of them could seek a solution to the love triangle.

"Apparently victim Lukman rejected the suspect's wish to drive to Puncak and parked his car across the street, blocking the already congested traffic," lawyers said.

Prosecutor Suriansjah is demanding a 20-year prison sentence for Erfiandi, having indicted him with executing a premeditated murder.

The team of judges led by Zulkifri Lubis will announce its sentence on June 18. (14)