SIBU: A man charged with murder was yesterday ordered by the High Court here to enter his defence but after hearing Tiong Ing Sung’s defence, the judge reserved sentencing until Jan 21 next year.According to the charge, Tiong stabbed Soon Pek Lian on the chest with a knife on Aug 25, 2006 about 7.30pm at Lembangan Lane, Off Central Road.

Tiong told the court yesterday that at the material time he was having a headache and not feeling well.

He said he had been hearing voices for a few days, and was not conscious enough to know what he was doing when the killing allegedly took place.

He also said he was on medication to stay stable.

The court had earlier heard from a witness, Hii Siik Ling, that prior to the killing she and her daughter (name withheld) were riding pillion behind her friend, Soon Pek Lian.

They stopped their bike in front of a Toto outlet near Daesim Supermarket to remove a plastic paper that had stuck to the front tyre of the bike.

Hii told the court it was there and then that Tiong approached, and without a word, stabbed Soon.

“He (Tiong) then pulled the motorcycle down, causing Soon and my daughter to fall.

“Tiong kept attacking Soon with a knife without mercy,” she added.

She said when she pulled Tiong by the shirt from his back and shouted for help, Tiong turned around and attacked her and her daughter.

Both the mother and daughter were said to have sustained injuries on the hand and calf respectively and were treated at a medical centre.

For that, Tiong was also charged under Section 326 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing grievous hurt using dangerous weapons.

The Section provides for a maximum jail term of 20 years and is liable to a fine or whipping.

The charge for murder was framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code which carries the mandatory death sentence.

In his defence yesterday, Tiong pleaded with the court to charge him under Section 304 of the Penal Code for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

The Section provides for a jail term of up to 10 years or with a fine, or both.