Family says police executed 15-year-old and two others

The families of two youths, including a teenager, shot dead by police on Nov 13, yesterday lodged a report against the police claiming that they had deliberately shot to kill in what appeared like an execution.

According to lawyer N Surendran, the families of Mohd Shamil Hafiz Shapiei, 15, and Hairul Nizam Tuah, 20, had come to this conclusion after viewing the injuries on the bodies.

"Both of them were shot twice, once in the head and then in the chest. Mohd Shamil was shot in the middle of his forehead while Hairum Nizam was shot on the right side of his head.

"From the angle (in which the bullets exited the bodies), it's as if the deceased were kneeling, and that the shots were fired at close range and from above them," said Surendran who is representing the families of Mohd Shamil and Hairul Nizam, when contacted today.

The third youth who died, Mohd Hanafi Omar, 22, also sustained a gunshot to the head and to the chest, although exact details are unknown as Surendran is not representing the deceased's family.

Hairul Nizam, Mohd Hanafi and Mohd Shamil, who would have turned 16 today, were shot dead by on Nov 13 at about 4am.

Why at close range?

Acting Selangor police chief A Thaiveegan claimed that the trio were "seasoned criminals" and were shot following a high speed chase in Glenmarie, Shah Alam.

The Star daily reported that Thaiveegan further said: "The CCTV footage at the petrol station in Glenmarie showed them storming into the petrol station, holding up a staff member and grabbing money from the cash register machine."

The youths were said to have charged at police with machetes when they were cornered, leading to the police shooting at them.

But Surendran queried: "If it was a case of self-defence then why were they shot in the head after being shot in the chest. A shot in the chest would have stopped anyone unless you're a grizzly bear. They also did not have firearms so there was no reason to shoot to kill."

Mohd Shamil's mother Norhafizah Mad Razali, who was seen in tears yesterday, denied that her son was a delinquent.

"Neither of the deceased had a criminal record so I don't understand how Thaiveegan can say they are seasoned criminals," said Surendran.

The statements from the police, he said, indicates a cover up and the families are demanding that senior police officers like Thaiveegan be considered "accessories to murder".

In her police report, Mohd Shamil's mother Norhafiza Mad Razali said that she dioes not believe that her son had charged towards police with a machete.

"My son doesn't have a criminal record, and does not know how to drive...(he was found with) 20 sen in his pocket," her report read.

According to Mohd Hanafi's sister Norhaliza Tuah, police found less than RM20 in her brother's wallet and a gold necklace with a green locket which their mother had given to him.

"A bullet had gone through his left shoulder and exited near his right ribs. He also had a black eye, as if he was assaulted," she said in her police report

Pathologist tight-lipped

Surendran added that the family members had attempted to get more details about the injuries from the pathologist from Tuanku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang, but the latter had remained "tight-lipped".

"We are trying to get an appointment with her and the head of the forensics department Dr Khairul Azman Ibrahim early next week.

"The family has the right to be given a detailed explanation of how (the youths) had died, and to be given a post-mortem report which should be ready in two to three weeks," he said.

Khairul Azman is also the pathologist who conducted the post-mortem on Aminulrasyid Amzah ( left ) who was shot dead by police in April, a few months short of his 15th birthday.

The trial of Corporal Jenain Subi, who has been charged with culpable homicide in the Aminulrasyid case, is currently on-going.

Police had earlier said that they had shot the teen in self-defence claiming that he had tried to reverse his vehicle into them, but a police forensic investigator has since testified otherwise.

The family of another teen shot dead, Mohd Afham Arin, 18, who died on Oct 20, recently demanded for an independent commission to investigate the case.