The murder trial of deputy public prosecutor Kevin Morais witnessed a twist today when the defence lawyer suggested that the deceased, whose remains were found encased in a concrete-filled drum, might have committed suicide.

Since the post-mortem could not confirm if he had died of asphyxia, counsel Geethan Ram Vincent, in going over the testimony by forensic expert Nurliza Abdullah, asked if it was possible that the death occurred due to “plastic bag asphyxia suicide”.

According to The Star Online , Nurliza, 51, said in her career, having dealt with 4,500 cases, she had only come across two such cases, and neither of them was suicide.

On Wednesday, the expert provided two scenarios which could have cumulatively caused Morais’ death.

Nurliza said these were smothering with a plastic bag and compression to the deceased’s chest and rib cage.

Geethan Ram suggested another possible cause, which he said was vagal inhibition. This is a condition that causes sudden death due to minor trauma, especially pressure to the neck.

Yesterday, Nurliza told the Kuala Lumpur High Court that the decomposed remains of Morais were found with the fingernails and toenails missing .

The Kuala Lumpur Hospital forensic medical consultant said the fingernails and toenails could have slid off the rotting skin.

Six men - G Gunasekaran, 48, R Dinishwaran, 24, AK Thinesh Kumar, 23, M Vishwanath, 26, S Nimalan, 23, and S Ravi Chandaran, 45 - are jointly accused of committing the murder between 7am and 8pm on Sept 4, 2015, between Jalan Dutamas Raya Sentul and No1 Jalan USJ1/6D, Subang Jaya.

The first accused, Col Dr R Kunaseegaran, 53, is charged with abetting the six in killing Morais at the same place, date, and time.

On Jan 27, Gunasekaran, Dinishwaran, Thinesh Kumar, Vishwanath, Nimalan and Ravi Chandaran claimed trial to their joint charge of murdering Morais.

Kunaseegaran also pleaded not guilty to abetting in the murder.

The trial before Justice Azman Abdullah continues on May 3.