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©The
Malay Mail (Used by permission)
by Haliza Hashim Doyle in London
THE fate of a Malaysian woman accused of murdering a Chinese student would be
known before the end of the week.
Noor Azura Mohd-Yusoff, 22, and her ethnic Vietnamese boyfriend Lon Gian, 26,
both deny murdering Chinese national Xie Xing Xing.
The Belfast-born Gian also denied perverting the course of justice by disposing
of the body.
Another suspect in the murder case, Chanh Ngo, from Vietnam has since fled
Britain.
The prosecution established that there were four people at 54 Knoyle Street, New
Cross, south east London on April 17, 2007 - the victim Xie Xing Xing, the
defendants Noor Azura and Lon Gian and the fourth person, Chanh Ngo.
Interpol managed to trace his movements after he fled - he flew from Heathrow to
Amsterdam, then to Bangkok and later to Hong Kong.
The 23-year-old student’s headless and handless body was found in laundry bag in
a south London dock on April 19, 2007. Her head was discovered several weeks
later.
The trial at the Old Bailey, which began on July 8, heard the testimonies of
several witnesses, including friends of the defendants.
Yesterday, defence counsel Jane Humphreys and Peter Carter began their
submission.
During her submission before Judge Forrester, Humphreys said that the crown had
failed to established where Xie was murdered, when she was murdered, when her
head and hands were cut off. The crown also failed to produce evidence that Gian
was involved or participated in the disposal of the body.
She cited pathologist Dr Peter Jerreat’s account that there was no evidence that
more than one person was involved in the savage murder.
Humphreys submitted that there was no reason to believe that three of them were
involved.
The two stab wounds on the neck are similar and close to each other which showed
repeated jabs by the same knife by the same person done in succession and all
other cuts on her body were done by the assailant from the same position.
Humphreys pointed out that Xie had ‘massive overdose’ of cocaine as stated by
toxicologist Ian Humphreys and thus could have died of cocaine poisoning and not
neck injuries.
Xie was last seen alive by her friend Rui Li at 6pm on April 16, 2007.
The court heard earlier that the laundry bag containing Xie’s body was found at
5pm on April 18, 2007 and since she was last seen alive at 6pm on April16, 2007,
the murder could have taken place between 6pm on April 16 and 5pm on April 18,
2007.
Earlier, Afzan King, the police interpreter for Azura when she was in custody at
Ilford police station in July last year, testified for the crown that although
Azura was able to speak English at ‘street level’ for everyday use, she was
unable to understand most ‘formal’ words and terminologies as her level of
understanding the language was low.
She didn’t understand the word ‘caution’ or ‘right to remain silent’ although
she was able to book a cab in good English.
The court then listened to four recorded telephone conversations (obtained from
a taxi company) between Azura and taxi operators when she telephoned to book for
taxis in good basic English.
Extract of Azura’s diary were also read out in court. An entry on Nov 23, 2005
read: Today is my special day. I have someone to celebrate my birthday tomorrow.
He is very nice and good. He treats me and loves me very well. He is a very good
man. Not like my ex. He is very special. This is the most happy thing. Trach Lon
Gian, my dear husband. I give all the space in my heart for you.” The defence
submission will continue today.
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Circular No 297/2008
