Based on her initial probe, officer found no evidence of murder but confirmed the body was discovered with several injury marks.
An assistant investigating officer in Cradle Fund chief executive officer Nazrin Hassan’s murder trial told the High Court yesterday she found cuts on his face and injuries on the head after the fire incident last year.
Anestassia Chin Fat, of the Petaling Jaya police district headquarters, said she went to Nazrin’s house in Mutiara Damansara on June 14, 2018, after she was informed that police had found charred remains there.
She said she was on duty that day and was in charge of cases handled by the Kota Damansara, Damansara and Sri Damansara police stations.
Anestassia said she went to the bedroom upstairs where the fire had broken out and saw the remains of a man clad only in underwear.
“I was informed by a colleague that a body was found at the house after the fire department put out the fire. I went to the house and went up to the upper floor where a body was lying on the side of the bed.
“I inspected the body and I could see a deep wound on the left side of the head and also injury to the left side of the face as if it had been cut, and there were burn marks on the chest near to the shoulder,” she said, adding that firemen were already in the room when she arrived.
“There was still blood and the body was found on the floor next to the bed and I did not suspect any foul play,” she said when asked by defence lawyer Shafee Abdullah.
Shafee asked Anestassia if she knew what could have caused such injuries to the body and if she had uncovered any weapon that could be used to cause a deep wound to the head.
“I am not sure (about the pattern of injuries) and I did not find any objects that could be the murder weapon,” she told the court.
Anestassia said she called her supervisor, Ahmad Marzuqi, and informed him that she wanted to classify Nazrin’s case as a sudden death report, or SDR, first.
She said Halim, a fireman at the scene, told her they could not ascertain the cause of fire and he was waiting for his colleagues from the forensic department to arrive.
On the question of who covered Nazrin’s remains with a yellow blanket, Anestassia said she did not know.
She also said she spoke to Nazrin’s wife, Samirah Muzaffar, who looked tensed.
“She said she did not know about the fire and only knew about it when the neighbourhood’s security personnel came and knocked on her door.
“I did not want to disturb her anymore because I believed she was in grief,” she said.
Inspector Anestassia is the fifth witness of the case. Prior to her account, the court had heard from three police officers from the technical assistance division unit as well as a Nepali chief security guard from the Mutiara Homes.
Samirah and two teenagers are accused of murdering Nazrin on June 14, 2018, with another suspect – Indonesian national Eka Wahyu Lestari – who is still at large.
The hearing before High Court judge Ab Karim Ab Rahman continues on Oct 2.
Earlier reports:
Sept 20, Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: Public Entered House After Fire
Sept 20, Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: Cop Who Received Call on Fire, Photographer Testify
Sept 13, Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: Guard Tried to Break Down Bedroom Door
Sept 6, Prosecution to Prove Widow. Stepsons Killed Cradle Fund CEO