MALAYSIA. MAN WHO SET WIFE ON FIRE GETS DEATH PENALTY
November 12, 2007: the Malaysian High Court found M.
Balamurali guilty of murdering two women at his home in Lot 10352 Jalan Bunga
Melor, Kampung Baru Hicom, at 10pm on Nov 6, 2002. The court heard Balamurali
was a jealous man who had accused his wife of having an affair. Overcome with
rage, he doused his wife and three of his in-laws with petrol and torched them
in their home on Deepavali five years ago. His wife, P. M. Komati, and her
sister-in-law, K. Sareswathy, 24, died of severe burns while Balamurali, his
mother-in-law and his brother-in-law were hospitalised. Judge Datuk Muhamad
Ideres Muhamad Rapee said the defence had failed to raise a reasonable doubt in
the prosecution's case and sent Balamurali to the gallows. Balamurali and
Komati have an 8-year-old daughter and a 5-year-old son. (Sources: New Straits Times, 13/11/2007)
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