Prosecution Reconsidering Murder Charge Against British Housewife Says Lawyer

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Samantha Ann Jones may not have to face trial for murder as the prosecution is said to be reconsidering the charge against her. (File pic)PETALING JAYA: The 62-year-old British housewife charged with the murder of her husband in Langkawi last year may not face trial for the offence, her lawyer says
Sangeet Kaur Deo said a deputy public prosecutor had told a magistrate on Sunday that her superiors were “reconsidering” the charge, which carries the death penalty
This was revealed when the case came up for mention before the magistrate
“The deputy public prosecutor updated the magistrate about the matter before the case was transferred to a Sessions Court or High Court,” Sangeet told FMT
She added that she had wanted to make a representation to the attorney-general, who is also the public prosecutor, when the case was moved from the Magistrate’s Court
“The deputy public prosecutor informed me that I could write in for the representation now instead of later,” she said
Her client, Samantha Ann Jones, was charged in the lower court with the murder of her husband, John William Jones, 63, on Oct 18
Criminal lawyer KA Ramu said the public prosecutor had the discretion under the Federal Constitution to drop, reduce or discontinue a criminal charge against an accused person
“In a murder case, he can do this after going through the post-mortem report and statements from potential witnesses,” he said
He said the accused in this case could be charged with causing death to the victim without intention, which carries a jail term of up to 30 years
“She could also be charged with causing death by negligence, where the jail term is two years, a fine or both,” he added
Samantha has been behind bars since October as bail is not allowed for those charged with a capital punishment offence
Her husband, John, was said to have been fatally stabbed at their home on the resort island, where they had lived since 2007
The case has been adjourned to next month. -FMT

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