KUALA LUMPUR: Two Malaysian men have been sentenced to
death by hanging for the 2001 murder of a Singaporean actress,
according to reports on Wednesday.
After a year-long trial, the High Court on Tuesday found make-up
artist Esma Faizul Zainul Nor, 38, and unemployed Mohamad Fazli
Ismail, 27, guilty of murdering Una Angelia Oliveiro, the Star
daily reported.
It said Oliveiro, who acted in a Malaysian sitcom, was found with
stab wounds in the dining room of her bungalow eight years ago. She
was 44.
"There is not even an iota of (defence) evidence which could make
the court not believe the testimony given by witnesses who heard
confessions from both accused," judge Mohamed Apandi Ali said,
according to the daily.
The duo had confessed to their friends that they had killed
Oliveiro with a knife taken from her kitchen, it reported.
Court official were not immediately available to confirm the
verdict and sentence. The death penalty is carried out by hanging
in Malaysia.
- AFP/so