In freeing M Chinnammah, 56, Seremban High Court judge Azman Abdullah said the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case after calling 14 witnesses.

Chinnammah was said to have killed M Pichai, 70, at a house in Pekan Jelai, Bahau, between 11.30pm and 5.20am on June 30, 2017.

In his oral ruling, the judge held that the evidence of the victim’s grandson was suspicious as Pichai’s gold bangle was found in his possession after her death.

“Further, a chemist’s report showed that the grandson’s DNA was embedded in all the victim’s fingernails, clearly showing that the victim had struggled with the witness,” he added.

Azman said there was doubt as to whether Chinnammah murdered her mother after “maximum evaluation” of the evidence of all prosecution witnesses.

Lawyers Paul Krishnarajah and Goh Chee Kian represented Chinnammah while deputy public prosecutor Rahimah Abdul Majid prosecuted.