KUCHING: A traffic police officer pleaded not guilty before the High Court today to a charge of intentionally killing a man by shooting him with a gun in an incident after leaving a nightclub at Jalan Stephen Yong here in April.
The accused, Genesis Nitchell David Reddy, 30, made the plea as soon as the charge was read before Judicial Commissioner Datuk Faridz Gohim Abdullah.
According to the charge sheet, the accused is charged with intentionally killing a 34-year-old victim by shooting him with a pistol on Jalan Stephen Yong on April 26.
The charge is framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty, or if not sentenced to death, imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years and not less than 12 strokes of the cane, upon conviction.
The court set the next mention date for case management on August 22.
In addition, the accused remand at Puncak Borneo Prison has been extended until the case is concluded.
According to the case record, two men arrived at the Batu Kawa Police Station at 5:30 am on April 26, bringing with them the body of their 34-year-old friend who had suffered a gunshot wound to the head.
An examination revealed that the victim had been shot in the head and another hit his right arm.
The incident occurred while they were travelling in a vehicle on their way to Jalan Stephen Yong, where the victim was seated in the front passenger.
It is understood that the incident happened due to dissatisfaction with the accused’s group following a cutting-in overtaking between their vehicle and the victim’s, and the gun used belonged to the police officer involved.
The incident took place after they had left a nightclub at Batu Kawa.
The prosecution is led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Jean Siow Chung Hwei, and the case is being investigated by Investigating Officer ASP Sylvarius Gopog.
Meanwhile, the accused is represented by lawyers from the National Legal Aid Foundation, Russell Lim, Zoe Chan and Brendan Ting.
