Sex, a quarrel, then death

SHAH ALAM: A couple went to a temple in Sepang to pray.

After fulfilling their religious obligations, they had sex outside the compound and then fell asleep.

When they woke up several hours later, they got into a heated argument which turned deadly when the man went back into the temple, grabbed a parang and hacked the woman to death.

The High Court here yesterday heard how general worker S. Ganesan, 24, then hid P. Suganthy's body in some bushes behind the temple.

Ganesan then threw away the parang and fled.
Suganthy's body was later found by a passer-by.

The facts of the case were read out yesterday before judicial commissioner Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim. He sentenced Ganesan to 14 years' jail after he pleaded guilty to culpable homicide.

Ganesan admitted committing the offence at a temple in Kampung Lembah Paya Salak in Sepang between noon and 6.15pm on Aug 11, 2005.

He was initially charged with murder and had claimed trial after which nine prosecution witnesses had testified.

Ganesan subsequently changed his plea when the prosecution reduced the charge to manslaughter.

In sentencing him, Abang Iskandar said, based on the post-mortem report, Suganthy, a 22-year-old cleaner, had suffered 16 external body injuries and a cracked skull.

He said the only mitigating factor he could consider was that Ganesan was a young offender (he was 19 when the offence was committed) and that he had pleaded guilty.

He ordered him to serve the jail term from the date of his arrest on Aug 31, 2005.

In mitigation, counsel K. Viknesvaran pleaded for leniency as his client had repented.

He pointed out that Ganesan was from a poor family and had pleaded guilty to the offence.

Deputy public prosecutor Hana Hadinah S. Mohd Ghazali pressed for a heavy sentence to reflect the gravity of the offence.

Skull

The sight of skulls hung from the beam of the ruai is a very rare. Only some long houses in remote places still practice this tradition. As the act of head hunting was eradicated many decades ago, those who still have skulls in their possession will just store them up in the sadau.

Due to the need of tourism for attracting visitors, these skulls were put on display. But then, these were on special arrangements with long houses which still has post modern era set up.




Have you ever ponder how is the head being prepared to become skull? Many ways could have been used for the preparation, and the version that was relate to me might differs from what the others did.

After the head have been chopped off, the hair is shaved and kept for decorating the sword of the victor. The skin, flesh and all were removed. Some said, the blood and grey matter of the brain was actually drank by the victorious party. By doing so, the soul of the dead man will not harm them.

Then the skull will be smoked over open flame for a long long period. Whatever flesh, muscle or skin that was left on the skull was removed. Finally only the skull and teeth are left.





Finally the individual skull is weaved by using rattan vine, covering and keeping the skull firmly inside. The whole bunch of skulls will then hung ,together with the rest of the stock by him, infront of his bilik......in the ruai.