KUALA LUMPUR: G. Gunasekaran, who is facing a murder charge for his alleged involvement in the killing of deputy public prosecutor Datuk Anthony Kevin Morais, has appointed a new lawyer to represent him in the case.
The 48-year-old unemployed man has engaged counsel S. Ramesh to replace his former counsel V. Rajehgobal, who had withdrawn himself during the trial proceedings on June 29.
Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Abdul Razak Musa told reporters that the prosecution will provide the documents to Ramesh for the trial.
The matter came up for case management before High Court deputy registrar Noor Aini Yusof.
On June 29, Gunasekaran was offered by the prosecution an alternative charge of concealing evidence.
However he pleaded not guilty to the charge before judge Datuk Azman Abdullah.
He was charged with helping to hide Kevin's body and disposing a car bearing the plate number WA6264Q, believed to be Morais’, with the intention to protect S. Ravichandaran, 45; S. Nimalan, 23; A. Thinesh Kumar, 26; R. Dinishwaran, 24; M. Vishwanath, 26; and Dr. R. Kunaseegaran, 53; from being charged.
The offence was allegedly committed between Jalan Dutamas 1, Sentul, here and an oil palm plantation at Kampong Sungai Samak in Hutan Melintang, Perak, between 7am on Sept 4, 2015, and 2am on Sept 5, 2015.
Abdul Razak offered the alternative charge to the accused without withdrawing his main charge of murder, along with the six others.
The alternative charge offer was made after Rajehgobal told the court that he discharged himself from representing his client due to a conflict of interest.
On Jan 27, Gunasekaran, Dinishwaran,Thinesh Kumar,Vishwanath, Nimalan, and Ravichandaran, claimed trial to murdering 55-year-old Morais.
They were alleged to have committed the offence between 7am and 8pm on Sept 4, 2015, while the victim was on his way from Jalan Dutamas Raya Sentul to No. 1 Jalan USJ1/6D, Subang Jaya.
The same day, Kunaseegaran, an army pathologist, claimed trial to abetting the six at the same place and time.
It was reported that Morais was last seen leaving his apartment in Menara Duta for work on the morning on Sept 4, 2015, using his official government car bearing registration WA 6264 Q.
The next date for trial is on Aug 15.