Zainuddin Noh and Norhazleyana Azreen Abdul Hamid, both 40, were charged with jointly causing the death of Aisha Farhana Muhammad Khirul Azral at a house in Jalan Desa Pengkalan Bandaraya 18, Desa Pengkalan, Lahat, here, between 10pm on May 13 and 7am the next day.

The charge, framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder, and read together with Section 34 of the same law, carries the death penalty upon conviction.

However, no plea was recorded from both the accused after the charge was read out before magistrate Jesseca Daimis, as murder cases are under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

The prosecution was conducted by Perak prosecution director Azlina Rasdi, while both the accused were represented by Nurul Syuhada Yusof.

Meanwhile, at the sessions court before judge Norashima Khalid, the couple was charged with two counts of abusing the victim’s younger brother at the same place between 1.30pm and 10.30pm on May 13.

They pleaded not guilty to the charge, framed under Section 31 (1) of the Child Act.

The court did not allow them bail and set June 30 for mention.

Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Hafizah Mohammad Pauzi appeared for the prosecution, while the couple was unrepresented.

The couple was arrested on May 15 after a doctor at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital lodged a report following the girl’s death.