Man gets 32 years, 12 strokes for killing girlfriend with pillow

KLANG: The High Court here today sentenced a mechanic to 32 years’ imprisonment and 12 strokes of the cane after finding him guilty of murdering his girlfriend four years ago by suffocating her with a pillow.

Justice Norliza Othman handed down the sentence after ruling that the prosecution had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt against Amirul Amin Amirruddin, 23, at the end of the defence case.

The sentence is to take effect from the date of his arrest on Aug 24, 2022.

Amirul was charged with murdering Nurul Shahira Abdullah, 24, at a house in Kampung Sri Pandan, Klang, at 7.18pm on Aug 24, 2022.

The charge, under Section 302 of the Penal Code, carries the death penalty or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years and, if the death sentence is not imposed, a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane.

Delivering her grounds of judgment, Norliza said the post-mortem examination found that the victim died from suffocation caused by the pillow, a finding confirmed by the prosecution’s forensic pathologist.

She said the accused admitted during cross-examination that while pressing the pillow over the victim’s face, he noticed her breathing had become slow and laboured, and claimed he did so to stop her aggressive behaviour.

“The accused also admitted that he knew his actions could prevent the deceased from breathing because her entire face was covered by the pillow.

“He stopped only after she was no longer struggling and had stopped breathing,” she said.

Norliza said the incident stemmed from an argument after the accused refused to sign an agreement promising not to leave the victim.

She also noted that the accused agreed with the prosecution’s suggestion during cross-examination that he had not considered any other way of calming the victim besides using the pillow.

The prosecution was led by deputy public prosecutor Farah Aqilah Ahmad Fuad, while the accused was represented by lawyers Norazihan Adnan and Evie Melynda Jee.

On Oct 17, 2025, the same court sentenced Amirul to seven years’ imprisonment under Section 304(b) of the Penal Code after convicting him of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

However, the prosecution succeeded in its appeal, with the Court of Appeal setting aside the conviction and ordering Amirul to enter his defence in the Klang High Court on a murder charge.