AN accused in the murder trial of T Nhaveen in George Town today admitted that he had taunted the victim at a burger stall on the night of the incident nine years ago, but denied taking part in an assault that allegedly led to the teenager’s death.
J Ragesuthen, 27, told the High Court that he and another accused, K Tatisan, 26, had encountered Nhaveen, 18, and T Previin, then 19, at a burger stall in Taman Tun Sardon while buying food on motorcycles.
“I saw T Previin and Nhaveen were also at the burger stall. Tatisan and I taunted Nhaveen, but I cannot remember what we said,” he said in a written statement read before Judge Datuk Mohd Radzi Abdul Hamid during the defence proceedings.
Ragesuthen said he and Tatisan later went to their usual hangout to meet S Gokulan and V Sharmah.
He said that later, at Jalan Kaki Bukit, Previin arrived with Nhaveen on a motorcycle and asked Tatisan why they were always taunting Nhaveen.
Ragesuthen claimed they ignored the question before Previin allegedly struck Tatisan with a helmet.
“During the scuffle, Gokulan and Sharmah came to break up the fight. I saw Previin hit Sharmah with a helmet and Sharmah fainted,” he said.
Ragesuthen said a man known as “Belang” then intervened and took Nhaveen away on his motorcycle, while Previin left on his own motorcycle.
He said he, Tatisan and Gokulan then helped take Sharmah home for treatment and that he did not know what happened afterwards to Previin, Belang or Nhaveen.
Ragesuthen, Tatisan, Gokulan, 27, and Sharmah, 27, are defending themselves against charges of murdering Nhaveen and causing injuries to Previin near the Karpal Singh Learning Centre in Jalan Kaki Bukit, Gelugor, between 11 pm and midnight on June 9, 2017.
During cross-examination by Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Amril Johari, Ragesuthen maintained that he and the three other accused did not beat Nhaveen, causing his injuries and death.
DPP: Tatisan taunted Nhaveen, and you also taunted Nhaveen. You taunted Nhaveen by saying, “pondan, lama tak jumpa” (effeminate, long time no see).
Ragesuthen: I disagree.
DPP: When you put Perviin in a neck lock, and Tatisan assaulted Perviin, you threw Perviin into a drain.
Ragesuthen: I disagree.
DPP: After the incident at Jalan Kaki Bukit, was Nhaveen injured?
Ragesuthen: I saw that he was fine.
DPP: At Padang Openg, you and the three others continued beating Nhaveen and Perviin with helmets.
Ragesuthen: I disagree.
DPP: Your version is that none of you went to Padang Openg?
Ragesuthen: We did not go to Padang Openg. - October 8, 2026
