<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>April 23, 2009
NTU STUDENT'S DEATH
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>Prof to testify at inquiry next month
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><TR>Injured don will be one of about 16 witnesses at coroner's hearing </TR><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Kimberly Spykerman
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The family of NTU student David Hartanto Widjaja, (from left) older brother William Widjaja, mother Huang Lixian and father Hartanto Widjaja, flew in from Jakarta to attend the hearing of the case yesterday. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->THE coroner's inquiry into the death of Nanyang Technological University student David Hartanto Widjaja - who allegedly stabbed his professor - will be held over five days next month.
The dates for the hearing have been set for May 20 to 22, 25 and 26.
Early last month, the 21-year-old Indonesian student, in his final year of studies at the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, fell four storeys to his death on campus.
Only minutes before, he was seen running out of his professor's office midway through a discussion, bleeding profusely.
The professor - Associate Professor Chan Kap Luk - had knife wounds and was taken to the National University Hospital.
Yesterday, lawyer Shashi Nathan, who represents the Widjaja family, and State Counsel Shahla Iqbal, who is assisting the court in the inquiry, spent almost an hour in the chambers of State Coroner Victor Yeo before the matter was mentioned in open court.
The court heard that around 16 witnesses will take the stand.
Mr Nathan said that although the list has yet to be finalised, it is certain that Prof Chan will be one of those in the line-up.
He added that the pathologist who conducted the autopsy is likely to be the first witness.
Mr Widjaja's parents and older brother flew in from Jakarta on Tuesday to attend the hearing. At court, they were accompanied by Indonesian embassy officials. The family have also arranged to meet the head of investigations of the Jurong Police Division later today.
Speaking to reporters outside the courtroom, Mr Nathan said that the meeting was arranged so that the family could raise any concerns they had with the police.
They will also get a better understanding of how the investigation was conducted.
Mr Nathan advised Mr Widjaja's family to 'keep an open mind' as it would be 'wrong and premature at this stage to start jumping to conclusions'.
A second hearing will be fixed if the five days are not enough, pending a report from the Health Sciences Authority on the blood spots at the scene.
Mr Nathan urged anyone with more information to come forward. He said: 'As long as we get to the bottom of what happened, the family can have some sort of closure. To move forward, they need to know the truth.'
The family will fly home tonight and return when the hearing commences. [email protected]
NTU STUDENT'S DEATH
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>Prof to testify at inquiry next month
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><TR>Injured don will be one of about 16 witnesses at coroner's hearing </TR><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Kimberly Spykerman
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
The family of NTU student David Hartanto Widjaja, (from left) older brother William Widjaja, mother Huang Lixian and father Hartanto Widjaja, flew in from Jakarta to attend the hearing of the case yesterday. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->THE coroner's inquiry into the death of Nanyang Technological University student David Hartanto Widjaja - who allegedly stabbed his professor - will be held over five days next month.
The dates for the hearing have been set for May 20 to 22, 25 and 26.
Early last month, the 21-year-old Indonesian student, in his final year of studies at the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, fell four storeys to his death on campus.
Only minutes before, he was seen running out of his professor's office midway through a discussion, bleeding profusely.
The professor - Associate Professor Chan Kap Luk - had knife wounds and was taken to the National University Hospital.
Yesterday, lawyer Shashi Nathan, who represents the Widjaja family, and State Counsel Shahla Iqbal, who is assisting the court in the inquiry, spent almost an hour in the chambers of State Coroner Victor Yeo before the matter was mentioned in open court.
The court heard that around 16 witnesses will take the stand.
Mr Nathan said that although the list has yet to be finalised, it is certain that Prof Chan will be one of those in the line-up.
He added that the pathologist who conducted the autopsy is likely to be the first witness.
Mr Widjaja's parents and older brother flew in from Jakarta on Tuesday to attend the hearing. At court, they were accompanied by Indonesian embassy officials. The family have also arranged to meet the head of investigations of the Jurong Police Division later today.
Speaking to reporters outside the courtroom, Mr Nathan said that the meeting was arranged so that the family could raise any concerns they had with the police.
They will also get a better understanding of how the investigation was conducted.
Mr Nathan advised Mr Widjaja's family to 'keep an open mind' as it would be 'wrong and premature at this stage to start jumping to conclusions'.
A second hearing will be fixed if the five days are not enough, pending a report from the Health Sciences Authority on the blood spots at the scene.
Mr Nathan urged anyone with more information to come forward. He said: 'As long as we get to the bottom of what happened, the family can have some sort of closure. To move forward, they need to know the truth.'
The family will fly home tonight and return when the hearing commences. [email protected]
