SHAH ALAM: A lorry driver accused of murdering his Thai girlfriend by pushing her to death from a condominium has been ordered to undergo psychiatric evaluation at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta in Perak.
Magistrate Mohamed Redza Azhar Reza ruled so after granting the application by defence counsel, Sivahnanthan Ragava, who stood for Nathan Vijayakumar, 37.
Sivanathan said his client had problems taking instructions due to head injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident in 2018.
"I fear that he will not be able to face a trial. I would like to ask for Nathan to be sent to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation.
"If the hospital finds him fit, then the trial can proceed," he said during the case mention today.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Farah Sofea Norazman did not object to the defence's application.
On March 8, Nathan was charged with the murder of his Thai girlfriend, Mawika Lumyai,32, at Trefoil@Setia City, Jalan Setia Dagang in Section U13, Setia Alam.
He committed the offence at about 10.03pm on Feb 28.
He faces jail not less than 30 years and not more than 40 years. If the death sentence is not meted out, he will be caned not less than 12 times.
Shah Alam police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Iqbal Ibrahim had said witnesses heard the couple arguing and the deceased being pushed from the 23rd floor and landed on the seventh floor.
He said the suspect, who has seven criminal records and one drug record, tested positive for cannabis.