Maid charged with murder of disabled girl may escape death penalty

ALL content used in this not-for-profit blog remain the property of their respective owners.
http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC120712-0000046/Maid-may-escape-death-penalty

An Indonesian maid charged with the murder of a disabled girl here two years ago may escape the death penalty.

The Jakarta Globe reported yesterday that the prosecution will be proceeding on a lesser charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against Nurhyati.

Confirming the report, her lawyer, Mr Mohd Muzammil, said he had received a letter from the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) indicating the prosecution's intention earlier this month.

The charge of culpable homicide, under Section 304a of the Penal Code, carries a penalty of life imprisonment or up to 20 years and a fine or caning.

On November 2010, 12-year-old Linda Lee Yee Lin was found dead near the rubbish bin centre at the foot of a block of flats at Hougang Street 51.

The girl had limited use of her legs and could not walk unaided. Nurhayati, who had been working for Linda's family for about a month, was arrested the next day and charged with the murder.

Nurhayati came to Singapore when she was 16 but her travel document listed her age as 24.