TWO Sarawakian men who bashed to death a Chinese national while robbing him were on Friday convicted of murder and sentenced to the mandatory death penalty.
Jabing Kho had struck Mr Cao Ruyin, a construction worker, on the head with a tree branch with such force that his accomplice, Galing Kujat, saw their 40-year-old victim's head crack open.
An autopsy found that Mr Cao suffered 14 fractures to his skull.
Justice Kan Ting Chiu, in convicting the two 26-year-olds, found that the duo had a common intention to commit robbery, and while carrying out that crime, Jabing intentionally inflicted head injuries on Mr Cao, which were sufficient to cause death.
On the night of Feb 17, 2008, Mr Cao and another Chinese worker, Mr Wu Jun, were walking along Geylang Drive when they were set upon by Galing and Jabing.
Mr Cao, who was robbed of his mobile phone, died from serious injuries to his brain six days later, while Mr Wu escaped with minor injuries.
Read the full story in Saturday's edition of The Straits Times.
