Two on trial for murder, face capital punishment

TANGERANG (JP): Two men face the maximum death sentence for meditated murder of an acquaintance after the victim gave them a night's lodging.

The defendants, Raya bin D., 19, and Jaya alias Yadi bin I., 29, were also charged of theft.

At the hearing at the Tangerang District Court prosecutor Mrs. Yustinar said the victim, Jejen Zaenal alias Lubis, 22, was a friend of Jaya.

The house belonging to Anwar Mutholib, the site of the murder in a small alley off Jl. Raden Saleh, Ciledug, was guarded by Jejen and Didi Sukardi.

One of the defendants, Raya, is Didi's nephew, Mrs. Yustinar said.

She said a day before the murder the defendants approached the house and asked if they could stay the night as it was too late for them to reach home. They were let in as they were known to the victim.

Around 9:30 the next morning Didi left the house to pay the electricity bill. Mrs. Yustinar said the defendants then proceeded to kill Jejen, aiming to seize the valuables in the house.

Jejen was stabbed then hit on the head with a hammer when he was conscious, the prosecutor said. The autopsy report from the Tangerang General Hospital cited six blows on the head.

The defendants then seized a 14-inch television, a laser disc player, three amplifiers and speakers, and a shaver. The losses totaled Rp 3 million, the prosecutor said.

The goods were then sold to a man called Buyung on Jl. Matraman, Central Jakarta, for Rp 675,000.

"The defendants are sadistic men. They had the heart to kill a friend who had assisted them," Mrs. Yustinar said.

The trial will continue next Tuesday. (Johansyah/anr)