High Court to Decide on Revising Open Verdict in Case of Australian Woman’s Death
Background
The High Court in George Town has set April 28 to decide whether to revise the Coroner Court’s open verdict in the case of the death of Australian citizen, Annapuranee "Anna" Jenkins. The revision application was filed by her son, Gregory Steven Jenkins, following the coroner court’s ruling in May 2023, which declared an open verdict in the inquest of Anna, whose remains were found nearly three years later, after her 2017 abrupt disappearance while on holiday in Penang.
Case Management Proceedings
During the proceedings today, Judge Rofiah Mohamad fixed March 14 for case management and stated that she would not deliver her decision today. She emphasized that she would try to convince the coroner, Norsalha Hamzah, to come up with the full grounds of her judgment. "However, whether or not we receive anything from the Coroner’s Court then, I will deliver my decision on April 28. This is to ensure fairness for everyone," she added.
Prosecution’s Position
Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Lee Jun Keong told the court that they needed the coroner’s grounds to reach the said decision before they could submit any highlights into the case. He emphasized that it was never the prosecution’s intention to delay the matter as it had fulfilled its responsibility throughout the inquest proceedings.
Defence’s Position
Gregory’s lawyer, David Dev Peter, argued that the case started back in December 2021 and that there should not be any further delay. "If we look at the last two pages of the note of the evidence, the broad grounds from the verdict were already there, hence, we should proceed with the revision application. This case is of public interest, not only locally but internationally," he added.
International Interest
The case has garnered international attention, with the Australian Deputy High Commissioner to Malaysia, Simon Fellows, present in court today.
Conclusion
The High Court’s decision on April 28 will be closely watched by the public, both locally and internationally. The family of Annapuranee "Anna" Jenkins, particularly her son, Gregory Steven Jenkins, hopes that the court will revise the open verdict and provide some closure in the case.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the case about?
The case is about the death of Annapuranee "Anna" Jenkins, an Australian citizen who went missing in 2017 while on holiday in Penang and whose remains were found nearly three years later. - What is the current status of the case?
The case is currently before the High Court, with a decision scheduled for April 28 on whether to revise the Coroner Court’s open verdict. - What is the significance of the case?
The case has garnered international attention and is of public interest, not only locally but also internationally.