On trial for transvestite's death

[Tadakatsu Honda]

Singapore
Feb 18, 2010

On trial for transvestite's death

<!-- by line --> By Selina Lum
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Astro (centre) being led back in June 2008 to the flat where Mr Abdul Khalid's body was found. Prosecutors said yesterday that Mr Abdul Khalid and Astro had been captured on surveillance camera leaving his workplace together on the night of June 19. -- SHIN MIN FILE PHOTO

A 28-YEAR-OLD Malaysian went on trial yesterday for the murder of a 61-year-old transvestite, nearly two years after the cleaner was found dead in his Ang Mo Kio flat. The dead man's supervisor described the accused, Astro Jakaria, as his subordinate's lover. This was disputed by Astro's lawyer. The Sabahan is accused of strangling Mr Abdul Khalid Othman some time between June 19 and 21 in 2008. Yesterday, one of Mr Abdul Khalid's neighbours testified that she saw Astro on the night of June 19. Two others said they heard the cleaner scream. They also told the court that Mr Abdul Khalid was usually dressed in a baju kurung, headscarf and high-heeled shoes. He shared the rental flat with another transvestite and a woman.

Read the full story in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.
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[Tadakatsu Honda]

Victim was strangled

Singapore
Feb 18, 2010

TRANSVESTITE MURDER
Victim was strangled

By Selina Lum <!-- by line -->

<!-- end by line --> <!-- end left side bar --> <!-- story content : start --> A 61-YEAR-OLD transvestite found dead in his flat nearly two years ago was strangled to death by a long-sleeved T-shirt with such force that it caused extensive fractures to bones and cartilage in his neck. Forensic pathologist Gilbert Lau, testifying in court on his autopsy findings, said Mr Abdul Khalid Othman had probably been taken by surprise and very quickly overpowered by his assailant. His body was found with the T-shirt wound around his neck and hands. A 28-year-old Malaysian, Astro Jakaria, is on trial for killing the older man in his rental Ang Mo Kio flat between June 19 and June 21 in 2008. A prosecution witness - Mr Abdul Khalid's supervisor at work - alleged on Wednesday that Astro was the dead man's lover whom he supported financially. The defence disputes this. On Thursday, Associate Professor Lau rejected a suggestion by the defence that Mr Abdul Khalid had inadvertently choked to death while trying to free himself from the bindings. Mr Abdul Khalid, who dressed as a woman, was found dead on June 21 after his adopted daughter and her boyfriend forced their way into his room.

Read the full report in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.

 

[Tadakatsu Honda]

Singapore
Feb 24, 2010

We were not lovers: Accused

<!-- by line --> By Selina Lum
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THE Malaysian man on trial for murdering a transvestite aged 61 has spent much of his last two days on the stand denying allegations that they were lovers. Astro Jakaria, 28, questioned by his lawyer, stressed that he treated the cross-dressing Abdul Khalid Othman as an elder sister, and had called him 'Kak Mie', meaning 'elder sister Mie'. He also maintained that he was not interested in men, had several girlfriends in Malaysia and was also interested in his female supervisor at his workplace here. Astro, who said it was the older man who made repeated passes at him, stands accused of strangling Mr Abdul Khalid in his Ang Mo Kio flat in June 2008. After his arrest, Astro at first told police that two of his friends had suggested stealing Mr Abdul Khalid's jewellery, but later admitted to having tied up Mr Abdul Khalid up following a scuffle. He maintained the older man was still alive when he left the flat. Mr Abdul Khalid, a cleaner just like him, paid for his food and clothes and even gave him money; when Astro lost his job, he took him in and shared his bed, where the sexual overtures were made.

Read the full report in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.

 

[Ginchiyo Tachibana]

It's manslaughter, not murder


Apr 30, 2010
It's manslaughter, not murder

<!-- by line --> By Selina Lum
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Astro now faces up to 10 years in jail and a fine. -- PHOTO: SHIN MIN

<!-- story content : start --> A 28-YEAR-OLD man initially accused of murdering a 61-year-old transvestite escaped the gallows after the High Court yesterday convicted him of a lower charge of manslaughter. Prosecutors had accused Malaysian Astro Jakaria of tying a long-sleeved T-shirt around the neck of Mr Abdul Khalid Othman during a scuffle in the older man's Ang Mo Kio flat, strangling him to death some time between June 19 and 21, 2008.

But Justice Chan Seng Onn said the prosecution had failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the act of tying the T-shirt around Mr Abdul Khalid's neck was intentional and not accidental. Astro's defence during the trial was that he had meant to use the T-shirt to gag Mr Abdul Khalid and that the older man was still alive when he left the flat.

While Astro was not guilty of murder, said the judge, he must have known that his act of tying the knot at the back of Mr Abdul Khalid's head and tightening it was likely to cause death. The case has been adjourned for mitigation and sentencing. Astro now faces up to 10 years in jail and a fine.

Read the full story in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.

 

[Cao Pi]

Malaysian gets 7 years' jail, 8 strokes of cane for murdering transvestite


Malaysian gets 7 years' jail, 8 strokes of cane for murdering transvestite
Posted: 30 June 2010 1311 hrs
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SINGAPORE : Malaysian Astro Jakaria has been sentenced to seven years' jail and ordered to be given eight strokes of the cane on Wednesday for culpable homicide.

In April, the 29-year-old had pleaded guilty to causing the death of 61-year-old cleaner Abdul Khalid Bin Othman, who was also a transvestite.

Astro had strangled him in 2008 and his body was found by his adopted daughter in a flat at Block 508 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8.

Justice Chan Seng Onn said in the High Court that Astro had caused the death of a person who had mothered and took care of him.

The judge said Astro assaulted the victim and left the flat without caring for him. - CNA /ls

 

[da dick]

Re: Malaysian gets 7 years' jail, 8 strokes of cane for murdering transvestite

guy looked so much like the idiot mat gambler/drunk who hangs out near my place. same hair style . same bone structure. maybe his brother?

too bad. still have to see that idiot mat around here.

 

[Cao Pi]

7 years for manslaughter


Jul 1, 2010
7 years for manslaughter

<!-- by line --> By Selina Lum
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Astro is the first person to be caned for manslaughter without intention to cause death after the Penal Code was amended in 2008 to include the punishment as a sentencing option. -- PHOTO: SHIN MIN

A 28-YEAR-OLD man who strangled the 61-year-old transvestite who took him in and supported him financially was on Wednesday jailed for seven years and ordered to be caned eight strokes. In sentencing Astro Jakaria, a Malaysian, Justice Chan Seng Onn chided him for not caring about the condition of his benefactor, Mr Abdul Khalid Othman, after he tied the older man up in his flat.

Astro is the first person to be caned for manslaughter without intention to cause death after the Penal Code was amended in 2008 to include the punishment as a sentencing option. He was initially charged with murder but escaped the gallows after Justice Chan convicted him of the lower charge. Astro had tied a long-sleeved T-shirt around the neck of Mr Abdul Khalid during a scuffle in the older man's Ang Mo Kio flat, strangling him to death some time between June 19 and 21, 2008. He could have been jailed for up to 10 years and also fined.