The defendants, aged 16 to 19, were charged with the murder of Nazmie Aizzat Narul Azwan, 17, in the dormitory at Lahad Datu Vocational College between 9pm on March 21 and 7.38am on March 22.

They were charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the code, which provides for the possibility of the death penalty if convicted.

The proceedings before magistrate Nur Asyraf Zolhani were held behind closed doors because the case involves juvenile offenders.

Deputy public prosecutor Ng Juhn Tao led the prosecution. Eight of the 13 accused were represented by lawyers Kamarudin Mohmad Chinki, Ram Singh, Amirul Amin Rashid and Chen Wen Jye; one was represented by lawyer Abdul Ghani Zelika, and four others were not represented.

Outside the courtroom, Kamarudin said the chemical and post-mortem reports for the case were still pending, and the case has been set for document submission on July 25.

“A new date has also been set as there is no order yet to transfer the case to the High Court,” he said.

During this morning’s proceedings, Kamarudin’s team requested that the case be expedited for transfer to the High Court.