Margaret Law, 36, and Fam Mee Fatt, 53, a labourer, nodded when the murder charge was read out to them before magistrate Nurmadiana Mamat.

No plea was recorded as the murder charge falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

They were jointly charged with the murder of Lee Ming How, 44, at a flat at Jalan Nipah in Taman Daya at about 2pm on July 14.

The charge, under Section 302 of the Penal Code and read together with Section 34 of the same Act, provides the death penalty upon conviction.

The court fixed Sept 27 for mention pending the post-mortem report.

In the same court, both Law and Fam pleaded guilty to self-administration of drugs and were each fined RM1,700, or six months jail in default.

Law, who tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine, was charged with committing the offence at the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division of the Johor Bahru Selatan district police headquarters at about 1.30pm on July 15.

Fam tested positive for methamphetamine at the same place at about midnight the following day.

Nurmadiana also ordered them to be placed on probation under the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) for two years.