BATU PAHAT: The magistrate's court here set March 11 for re-mention in the case against Mohammad Haikal Mahfuz for the alleged murder of Mila Sharmila Samsusah, better known as Bella.
Magistrate Suhaila Shafi'uddin made the decision after deputy public prosecutor Siti Khalijah Khalid informed the court that the prosecution had yet to receive the forensics report for the case.
The DPP told the court that it was only this report which had yet to be handed over to the prosecution, after which they would apply for the case to be transferred to the Muar High Court.
Haikal's lawyer, Syahril Anuar, then suggested March 11 for re-mention.
Siti Khalijah did not object to the date and neither did lawyer Nur Aminahtul Mardiah Md Nor, who is holding a watching brief for the family of the victim.
Haikal, who was Bella's boyfriend, was charged with her murder on Jan 24, five days after being arrested upon his return from performing the umrah. No plea was recorded as murder cases fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
According to the charge sheet, the former postman was charged with murder Mila Sharmilah, 32, somewhere between Jalan Kelapa Barli, Taman Soga, and Jalan Parit Besar in Kampung Parit Besar, and an abandoned house in Lorong Imam Jailani in Tongkang Pechah.
He was alleged to have committed the offence between 11pm on Dec 14 and 5am the next day.
He was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder, which carries a term of imprisonment of not less than 30 years and not more than 40 years, with caning of no less than 12 lashes, or death, upon conviction. Bella went missing on the night of Dec 14.
Skeletal remains found in an abandoned house in Kampung Batu 7 in Tongkang Pechah were later confirmed to be hers.
A post-mortem examination of her remains revealed that she had died due to cracks in her skull.