By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, March 14: A housewife has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after admitting to the murder of her husband’s three-year-old nephew.
The ruling was delivered by Judicial Commissioner Zaleha Mohd Yusof Pan at the High Court. The charge, under Section 302 of the Penal Code, carries either the death penalty or a minimum of 30 years imprisonment, along with caning.
The tragic incident took place on April 1, 2021, around 8pm, at a residence in Lundu. At 9pm, the accused, Elora Duka, rushed the child to Lundu Hospital’s emergency department, claiming he had choked and experienced a seizure.
Medical staff found the toddler in critical condition with a weak pulse and began emergency treatment. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was transferred to Sarawak General Hospital and placed in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit.
The child passed away the next day at 12.25pm, prompting a medical officer to file a police report. Elora was arrested on April 7, 2021.
Investigations revealed that the toddler had been in good health prior to the incident. After dinner, the child wanted to lie down, but Elora warned him it could cause stomach pain. When the boy began crying, Elora, fearing others might hear and suspect mistreatment, tried to quiet him in a moment of anger.
She reportedly shook the child violently, causing his head to hit the floor multiple times as the mattress shifted. She also pressed on his neck and stomach repeatedly. Elora later stated she acted out of frustration because the child would not stop crying.
After the boy lost consciousness, Elora left him on the floor and went to feed her cat. Her son later alerted her to the child’s laboured breathing, prompting her to contact her husband. Together, they took the toddler to the hospital.
A post-mortem conducted on April 6, 2021, concluded that the child died from head and abdominal injuries caused by blunt force trauma.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Aida Nurdiana represented the prosecution, while Elora was defended by lawyer Timothy Finlayson Joel. — DayakDaily
