FAMILIES who have lost loved ones to heinous crimes still want the mandatory death penalty for murder.

They said it is only fair that those who are convicted get the maximum punishment.

These include D. Shanti, 47, the mother of bullying victim, teenager T. Nhaveen, whose murder trial is ongoing.

“I want the death sentence. I want them (those charged) to feel the same pain as my son.

“What they did to an innocent boy…how could they do that?” she told The Malaysian Insight.

Shanti said it is about holding those who commit murder responsible. 

“Those responsible should get the same fate as my son. I don’t want them to repeat what they did to my son to others.

“Murdering someone for revenge and murdering to defend oneself or their family is different,” she added.

In 2017, 18-year-old Nhaveen was brutally assaulted, beaten with crash helmets, sodomised and left for dead.

Three suspects – S. Gopinaath, 30, J. Ragesuthan, 22, S. Gokulan, 22 – and two others have been charged with Nhaveen’s murder. The two unnamed were juveniles when the offence took place. 

They are charged with committing the act on June 9 between 11pm and midnight, near the Karpal Singh Learning Centre, Jalan Kaki Bukit, Gelugor, Penang, under section 302 of the penal code, which carries the mandatory death sentence. 

Nhaveen’s murder trial is ongoing at the George Town High Court. 

Shanti said that it has been five years since the death of her son, who aspired to be a musician, and she is finding it difficult to move on. 

“I really can’t move on. I feel really disturbed when I think about him. I feel so empty now. We want justice for him.” 

Shanti was commenting on Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar’s announcement on the government’s commitment to abolish the mandatory death sentence. 

Capital punishment will still remain in effect, but judges will have discretionary power. 

There is still some time before this comes into effect, however, as the government is studying alternative sentences instead of imposing the death penalty. 

Like Nhaveen’s mother, S. Shanti from Bidor, Perak, also does not want the mandatory death sentence to be abolished. 

The 39-year old mother of Sree Ravinthran, whose body was found hanged at the Kampung Chang waterfall on May 21, said justice would not be served. 

“The death penalty should not be abolished. Because my son was killed, so I want the same justice (for the culprits). 

“We want to know what really happened and for those responsible to be brought to justice. 

“I will be more relieved if they get the death sentence. It will bring me peace.” 

On May 22, Shanti lodged a report at the Bidor police station claiming her 19-year-old son was murdered. 

Shanti said that she feels restless and keeps thinking about her son. 

“Those who are responsible should face the punishment. They have to go through the same pain my son felt.” 

Shanti said police have caught two suspects and the investigation is ongoing. – June 16, 2022.