The accused (back of row, second left, in purple shirt, long hair) being escorted out from the Kota Kinabalu Court Complex to a waiting police truck. (Insert pic: The deceased - Audrey Maturin)
KOTA KINABALU: A former Sabah rugby player has been charged in the Magistrate's Court here on Friday (May 12) with murdering his younger sister.
Arden Mattson Maturin, 26, was accused of murdering Audrey Maturin, 25, at their family house at Taman Prestij, Jalan Signal Hill here on May 4.
Arden, who was clad in a purple shirt, appeared before Magistrate Jessica Ombou Kakayun.
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He was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which provides for the mandatory death sentence on conviction.
Arden was not represented.
However, the accused suddenly told the court: "I am not guilty. I want to have a trial."
The magistrate then explained at length to the accused that his case was only up for mention and that his plea would be heard at the High Court.
Prosecuting officer Insp Albert Basiri applied for the next mention date and to extend the accused's remand.
Jessica subsequently fixed June 14 for next mention and extended the remand.
Murder is a non-bailable offence.
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Audrey was found with serious facial injuries by her father at their family home at Jalan Signal Hill at 4.30pm on May 4.
Police had earlier said that the suspect punched his sister during a quarrel.
Audrey was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital II and placed in the intensive care unit.
However, she succumbed to her injuries without gaining consciousness two days later at 10.30pm on May 6.
Kota Kinabalu OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Zaidi Abdullah said investigations were earlier framed under Section 325 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing grievous hurt but later reclassified as murder.
He said police did not find any weapon but had seized two rings worn by the suspect.
He also said the suspect had tested negative for drugs.
