The body of a 23-year old woman was found in a multi-storey carpark — three days after she was allegedly thrown off the parapet by her friend and fell to her death.

On Tuesday (Feb 20), Syed Maffi Hasan, now 27, started his trial. He faces one count of murdering Atika Dolkifli in August 2015, an offence which carries the death penalty — over an alleged dispute regarding phone repair costs.

The prosecution, led by Deputy Public Prosecutors Bhajanvir Singh and Quek Jing Feng, is making the case that he had first pushed her off a flight of stairs, causing her to hit her head on one of the steps. Next, he lifted her and threw her off the railing head-first.

The court heard at the trial’s opening that the duo became acquainted through Facebook some time in 2013, but lost contact when Syed Maffi was admitted to the Drug Rehabilitation Centre.

They later rekindled their friendship in April 2015, upon his release.

Atika — who, according to her parents, was found to have lower-than-usual intelligence level when she was 12 — is said to have lent him her iPhone 5C, as he did not have a phone at that time.

The phone later developed problems and had to be sent for repairs, which cost S$135.

“However, he lied to the deceased about the cost of repair and instead sought a reimbursement of about $300 from the deceased,” said the prosecution.

Syed Maffi would later show up at Atika’s workplace — a Toa Payoh Pizza Hut branch — multiple times to look for her, but to no avail, added the prosecution.

He also allegedly showed up at her house, and told Atika’s father that she owed him S$300 but was turned away. He was also warned by her brother not to contact her again, and to keep the phone.

The duo then met on August 31, 2015, where they were said to have engaged in sexual intercourse, before heading up to the roof garden of the carpark located at Lorong 2 Toa Payoh. A dispute subsequently erupted.

Syed Maffi said Atika hurled vulgarities at him, and demanded that he return the phone.

Court documents did not indicate if the two were in a romantic relationship.

Syed Maffi, who was unemployed, then allegedly pushed Atika on the chest, causing her to fall down a flight of stairs and hit the back of her head on the edge of one of the steps, the court was told.

“As a show of his determination to cause fatal injuries to (Atika), (Syed Maffi) then dragged (her) by her armpit off the remaining steps to the landing at Deck 5A and towards the railing, lifted her by her collar and seat of her trousers, and threw (her) head-first over the railing of the parapet,” DPP Singh said.

She landed, face-first, with a loud thud on Deck 3A, the court was told.

According to an autopsy report, Atika sustained multiple fractures and serious lacerations on her scalp and face.

After throwing Atika off the parapet, Syed Maffi is said to have collected her scattered belongings — including her bag — and discarded them.

The prosecution said that he had done so because he was “angry with her”.

On Tuesday, two prosecution witnesses — both investigation officers of the case — were called to the stand.

The trial continues on Wednesday.

Source:
courtesy of TODAY

by Alfred Chua

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