KUALA LUMPUR – Jemma Mitchell, who was on trial for the murder of Malaysian-born Deborah Chong Mee Kuen, has been found guilty by London’s Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) and sentenced to life in jail with a minimum sentence of 34 years.
According to a report by BBC, Mitchell murdered and decapitated her 67-year-old friend at her London home on June 2021 before putting her in a suitcase and dumping the body in Salcombe.
Mitchell became the first murderer and the first woman to be sentenced on television in England and Wales after rules were changed to allow cameras into courtrooms.
Judge Richard Marks said aggravating factors included that the killing was carried out for gain, and the manner in which she treated Chong's body.
I am driven to the conclusion that you are extremely devious.
“There is the chilling aspect of what you did to and with her body after you killed her.
“You have shown absolutely no remorse and it appears you are in complete denial as to what you did, notwithstanding what in my judgement amounted to overwhelming evidence against you,” Marks was quoted as saying.
On June 27, 2021, Chong’s headless body was found in the woodlands in Salcombe, Devon, 350km from her home after she was reported missing on June 11 from her home in Wembley, London.
The prosecution had claimed that Mitchell planned to murder Chong, whom she met at church, and fake her will to inherit the bulk of her estate worth more than RM3.8 million (£700,000) after the pensioner apparently retracted a RM1.09 million (£200,000) payment to the former osteopath.
On June 27, 2021, Chong’s headless body was found in the woodlands in Salcombe, Devon, 350km from her home, after she was reported missing on June 11 from her residence in Wembley, London.
Following the discovery of Chong’s headless body, her head was found four days later about 10m away in an undergrowth.
Prosecutors also showed jurors video footage of Mitchell dragging a suitcase containing Chong’s corpse to her car before driving over 320km to a woodlands area to dump the body.
Additionally, prosecutor Deana Heer said that a post-mortem examination had been unable to determine Chong’s cause of death due to the degree of decomposition.
However, her body appeared to have been cut and there were signs of assault, including a skull fracture suggesting “significant impact by a blunt object very shortly before death”.
According to the report, Chong’s sister Amy Chong joined the hearing by video link from Malaysia and provided a victim impact statement to be read by the prosecution.
Amy said she continues to suffer sleepless nights and was “shocked and saddened” Chong had to go through “such a horrifying ordeal and tragic” death.
“We still do not understand how she died. Did she suffer? This mystery will haunt me forever,” she was quoted as saying.
Prior to the proceedings, Mitchell blew kisses to her mother with whom she shared the £4 million family home in north-west London, who was sitting in the public gallery.
Speaking outside court, the defendant’s mother said she was “absolutely agog” that her daughter had been convicted with so little forensic evidence and vowed to appeal.
Mitchell had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering Chong on a date between June 10 and June 27 last year.
Chong had been living in Wembley for over 30 years, according to reports.
The pensioner has been described by neighbours and friends as a staunch Christian, friendly and helpful, and yet trusting and naive.
Formerly a native of Kuala Lumpur, Chong, who was single, studied at Ampang Road Girls’ School and Convent Bukit Nanas. – The Vibes, October 28, 2022
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