SINGAPORE: The last accused person in the 2019 killing of a man during a fight at Orchard Towers was found guilty of murder , on Thursday ( Apr 25 ).
Tan Sen Yang, then 32, was sentenced to life imprisonment and 12 stroke of the cane , by Justice Aedit Abdullah. The trial did not ask for the death penalty.
Seven people, including Tan, were originally charged with murder with typical purpose over the death , of 31- yr- old Satheesh Noel Gobidass on the morning of Jul 2, 2019. He died from a chest attack wound.
After six of the accused, including Joel Tan Yun Sheng, Chan Jia Xing, Ang Da Yuan, Loo Boon Chong, Tan Hong Sheng, and Natalie Siow Yu Zhen, had their costs reduced, Tan was the only one also facing the murder charge.
All seven defendants have been found guilty and given sentences following Tan’s trial‘s finish.
Tan shaved his head and appeared in court on Thursday wearing a purple jail costume. After he was sentenced, he asked to speak to five community members who were present, including his parents.
A group of attorneys, including Mr. Teo Choo Kee, Mr. Subir Singh Grewal, and Mr. Nichol Yeo, represented Tan in his death fee.
During the trial, prosecutors captured closed-circuit television (CCTV ) footage from Orchard Towers that showed Tan and his co-accused arguing with other Naughty Girl Club patrons and a karambit knife in Tan’s hand.
Video cameras caught the dangerous altercation on the ground floors of the store, with Tan seen punching Mr. Satheesh. He admitted to holding the karambit razor while doing that.
Justice Aedit determined that Tan willfully caused Mr. Satheesh to suffer a neck injury that was severe enough to kill him in the ordinary course of events.
Acknowledging the” passionate military” mounted by Tan’s professionals, he yet rejected each of their arguments.
Tan’s defense attorneys had attempted to raise doubts about whether other people of his team were mentally ill and might have caused the fatal accident.
In specific, another member of the group was seen in CCTV footage holding a dark thing. However, the prosecutor argued that he was certain that this was more than just an e-cigarette.
Justice Aedit claimed that it was technically possible for other group members to have had time to rid of any weapons they might have been carrying following the battle.
However, he concluded that the probability that they could have caused the lethal injury was not sufficient to raise a reasonable doubt in light of the fact that Tan was armed and struck Mr. Satheesh.
The defense made the claim that Mr. Satheesh’s figure had eight wounds, but CCTV footage just revealed that Tan had punched the victim three times in the face.
The battle was a “dynamic” position, with both Tan and Mr Satheesh moving rapidly, and one blow had had inflicted more than one slice, said the judge.
Justice Aedit even rejected the army of reduced duty. Prior to this hearing, the judge learned that Tan had a history of adjustment disorder and depressive mood and was suffering from alcohol abuse problem.
The judge noted that Tan chose to go back to Orchard Towers to take part in the struggle because he was in charge of his intellectual faculties at the time.
Justice Aedit added that Tan allegedly fled the scene after being informed that officers were on hand, demonstrating his understanding of his behavior.
The penalties for death is the death sentence or life imprisonment.
Deputy Public Prosecutor , Hay Hung Chun sought life prison and at least 15 stroke of the wood for Tan. Mr. Teo, a defense attorney, requested that the judge take into account life in prison and at least 12 wood strokes.
Justice Aedit and the trial concurred that the crime did not merit a death sentence when punishment.
He also said that Tan’s due convictions , – including deliberately causing hurt in 2011 as well as affray and legal harassment in 2014 , – were not materials to sentencing, given the length of time that had passed and difference in severity with the current murder charge.
After the majority of the suspects ‘ charges were downgraded from murder, the Orchard Towers case attracted the attention of the public. The Attorney-General’s Chambers refuted online accusations of discrimination based on race.
Orchard Towers ‘ law and order situation also came under scrutiny. The mall is getting a makeover, and its nightlife establishments shut down in 2023 as a result of the police’s discontinuation of licensing and renewal.