'My client was distressed'

JAKARTA (JP): The lawyer of a Malaysian being tried for killing his female companion in a hotel here on Oct. 15 last year told the Central Jakarta District Court on Wednesday that his client had no intention of murdering the victim.

"The reason or cause of the defendant's action was that he was distressed and fatigued when the victim kept insisting that he marry her. This caused him to lose control," said lawyer Amir Syamsudin. "The post mortem examination did not indicate that the strangulation of the victim, Wati, was intentional."

Amir said that the defendant, 27, also conveyed his gratitude to the victim's family for having accepted his guilt.

However, Amir told the team of judges presided over by HM Dalail that they could not see any judicial reason to acquit the defendant.

The court was also attended by three Malaysian journalists who have been monitoring the trial from the beginning.

The judge is scheduled to read his verdict on July l7. (26)