Man Sentences to 32 Years Jail, 12 Strokes for Murdering Girlfriend with Pillow

KLANG, 30 JUNE – A 23-year-old man was sentenced by the High Court here today to 32 years’ imprisonment and 12 strokes of the cane after being found guilty of murdering his girlfriend four years ago by suffocating her with a pillow.

Judge Norliza Othman handed down the sentence to Amirul Amin Amirruddin after ruling that the prosecution had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt at the end of the defence case. The prison sentence is ordered to take effect from the date of his arrest on August 24, 2022.

Amirul Amin was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murdering 24-year-old Nurul Shahira Abdullah at a house in Kampung Sri Pandan, Klang, at 7:18 PM on August 24, 2022.

Judgment Details: Actions Led to Suffocation

In reading her grounds of judgment, Norliza stated that the post-mortem examination, confirmed by the prosecution’s forensic pathologist, verified that the victim died from suffocation caused by the pillow. She noted that the accused made crucial admissions during cross-examination regarding his actions during the fatal dispute.

“The accused admitted during cross-examination that while pressing the pillow over the victim’s face, he noticed her breathing had become slow and laboured, and claimed he did so to stop her aggressive behaviour,” Norliza said. “The accused also admitted that he knew his actions could prevent the deceased from breathing because her entire face was covered by the pillow. He stopped only after she was no longer struggling and had stopped breathing.”

The judge revealed that the fatal incident stemmed from an argument that erupted after the accused refused to sign an agreement promising not to leave the victim. Norliza added that the accused agreed with the prosecution’s suggestion during cross-examination that he had not considered any alternative method to calm the victim down other than using the pillow.

Legal History and Court of Appeal Order

The case marks a significant legal shift from a previous ruling. On October 17, 2025, the same High Court had initially sentenced Amirul Amin to seven years’ imprisonment under Section 304(b) of the Penal Code for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

However, the prosecution successfully appealed the decision. The Court of Appeal subsequently set aside the lesser conviction and ordered the accused to enter his defence back at the Klang High Court on the full murder charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum prison term of up to 40 years and mandatory whipping if the death penalty is not imposed.

The prosecution was led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Farah Aqilah Ahmad Fuad, while Amirul Amin was represented by defence lawyers Mohd Norazihan Adnan and Evie Melynda Jee.

-NMT