Teacher too traumatised to look at mother-in-law accused of hurting her

BUTTERWORTH: A burn victim told the Sessions Court here that she was so tormented by her ordeal that she was afraid to even look at her mother-in-law, one of two people accused of hurting her.

Primary schoolteacher Julie Yeoh Kar Tin, 43, who had her head and hands wrapped in muslin, said this when asked to identify Lee Wei Mei, 64, in court.

“She is here but I’m scared to look at her,” Yeoh replied when asked by Deputy Public Prosecutor Suhaimi Ibrahim if she could point out Wei Mei.

Wei Mei and her sister Lee Wei Chee, 61, are jointly charged with injuring Yeoh with a knife at the latter’s home in Block S of the Taman Tun Hussein flats in Seberang Jaya here at around 4pm on May 8 last year.

The sisters also face another charge of setting Yeoh’s flat alight with petrol.

As Yeoh was too traumatised to look at the accused, DPP Suhaimi asked if she could tell whether Wei Mei was the one on the left or right of the dock.

Wei Chee’s counsel Y. Anbananthan objected, saying that the witness had to identify the person properly to avoid confusion.

Sessions judge Musyiri Peet then ordered Yeoh to point at Wei Mei, which she eventually did.

Before being asked to identify Wei Mei, Yeoh told the court that she married Wei Mei’s son Mak Chee Wah in 1992, and prior to the incident Wei Mei used to go to her house on weekdays.

“She would help take care of my four-year-old son when my husband and I went to work,” said the mother of two.

This is the first time that Yeoh is giving her testimony after the case, which drew much public attention, was first brought to court on May 18 last year.

It was reported that Yeoh slipped into a coma after the alleged assault, and woke up eight days later at the Penang Hospital with burns on her body and a scarred face.

While the trial was going on yesterday, Wei Chee interrupted the proceedings with loud retching sounds.

Musyiri ordered the court to be stood down for a 30-minute break for Wei Chee to rest at about 11am.

When the court resumed, Anbananthan sought a postponement as Wei Chee had complained of gastric pains.

DPP Suhaimi objected, saying that the trial had been postponed numerous times.

Musyiri ordered the proceedings to be postponed to today.

Wei Mei is represented by Dev Kumaraendran.

Yeoh was accompanied to court by Mak, 43, and their 19-year-old son.