Medical evidence also revealed that Zulkiple Mohamad had also raped Law Poh Ling although he was not charged with the offence.

In dismissing Zulkiple’s appeal, a three-member bench chaired by Abdul Rahman Sebli said the conviction by the trial court was safe.

“The murder was committed under Section 300 (c) of the Penal Code,” said Rahman, who sat with Zabariah Mohd Yusof and Hasnah Mohammed Hashim.

That provision states that the intention of causing bodily injury is sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause death.

Zulkiple, now 43, committed the offence at a shop in Jalan Jelawat, Taman Banang in Batu Pahat, Johor, between midnight and 8.30am on Nov 22, 2013.

The facts of the case revealed that Law had been managing the business with her son but stayed in a room at the shop, which was started by her late husband.

On the day of the incident, the son came to open the premises and found it had been ransacked, with Law lying dead on her bed.

A blood-stained baseball bat was found at the scene.

Police were able to trace the accused, who has a criminal record, based on fingerprint marks left at the crime scene.

The post-mortem report concluded that Law had been hit several times on the head with the bat, while evidence presented during the trial revealed that Zulkiple subsequently raped her.

In his defence, Zulkiple said he hit Law with the bat to prevent her from screaming and alerting the neighbours.

Deputy public prosecutors Aslinda Ahad and Nahrah Dollah represented the prosecution while T Vijaya Sandran appeared for Zulkiple.