Lee Hao Yi, 21, only nodded when the charge was read to him in English before magistrate Siti Nora Shariff, Berita Harian reported.

He was charged with murdering his aunt Lee Huey Ting, 54, between 1am on Nov 6 and 8.25am on Nov 10.

The charge is under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which provides for the death penalty or imprisonment for 30 to 40 years and no less than 12 strokes of the rotan if convicted.

The prosecution was led by deputy public prosecutor Nur Aqilah Syaza Ariffin, while the accused was unrepresented.

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

Siti Nora set Feb 18 next year for re-mention of the case.

It was previously reported that the victim’s body was found in a state of decay in a house in Taman Puteri Lindungan Bintang on Sunday.

Acting Perak police chief Zulkafli Sariaat said Hao Yi is believed to have punched the victim several times, causing her to fall down the stairs, after which he locked the unconscious victim in a room for four days.