Why was the murder charge against Samirah Muzaffar dismissed?

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Samirah Muzaffar Acquitted of Murder Charge Due to Failure to Prove Prima Facie Case

The High Court acquitted Samirah Muzaffar and two teenagers of the murder charge of Cradle Fund CEO Nazrin Hassan because the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case. High Court judge Ab Karim Ab Rahman stated that the prosecution did not present sufficient evidence to prove the accused were responsible for Nazrin’s death within the specified timeframe.
Lack of Evidence for Timeline and Involvement

The prosecution failed to prove that Nazrin Hassan's death occurred within the precise timeframe stipulated in the charge, which was between 11:30 PM on June 13, 2018, and 4 AM on June 14, 2018. The judge noted that the prosecution's assertion that the accused were with the deceased during this period was based on assumption rather than concrete evidence.
Absence of Direct Proof of Harm

Crucially, the court found no direct evidence linking the accused to inflicting the harm that resulted in Nazrin's death. The judge highlighted that the circumstances presented did not demonstrate that the accused committed the offence, leading to the conclusion that the prosecution had not met the burden of proof required for a prima facie case.
Irrelevance of Perceived Actions

The judge also addressed the prosecution's attempts to implicate Samirah Muzaffar based on her actions, such as not alerting the Fire and Rescue Department or not expressing sorrow. The court deemed these perceptions as unrelated to the case and not supported by the testimonies provided by witnesses, further weakening the prosecution's argument.
Case Background and Next Steps

Samirah Muzaffar, along with two teenagers and an Indonesian woman, Eka Wahyu Lestari (who is currently at large), was charged on March 12, 2019. The alleged murder took place at Nazrin's home in Mutiara Damansara. The hearing commenced on September 6, 2019, and the prosecution concluded its case on February 14, having presented evidence from 57 witnesses. Nazrin's brother, Dr Abdul Aziz Che Hassan, has indicated that they hope the Attorney General's Chambers will file an appeal, or they will request an inquest into the cause of death.

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Why was the murder charge against Samirah Muzaffar dismissed?

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