Shahrul Nizam Zuraimy, 36, received a 72-year prison sentence and 24 strokes of the cane from a Malaysian court. The Melaka High Court delivered the verdict on 18 Aug 2025 for murdering his wife and stepson.
The Singaporean faced two murder charges. He killed his wife, Norfazera Bidin, 27, and her son, Muhammad Iman Ashraf Abdullah, 11. The murders happened at a house in Melaka Tengah between 6pm on 6 Oct 2019 and 7:30am on 7 Oct 2019.
Malaysian law gives two options for murder charges: death penalty or maximum 40-year prison sentence. Courts must impose at least 12 strokes of the cane if they don’t give the death penalty.
High Court judge Anselm Charles Fernandis gave Shahrul 36 years in prison and 12 strokes of the cane for each charge. The sentences run back-to-back, starting from his arrest date on 11 Oct 2019.
Dismemberment and disposal attempts to hide crime
Shahrul killed and cut up both victims before dumping their remains in different spots. The judge called his actions “cruel” during sentencing.
He wrapped both victims’ heads and hid them in the ceiling. This prevented smell and blood from being detected.
Shahrul threw other body parts in a bush. He cleaned the house after the killings before running back to Singapore.
Judge Fernandis said the dismemberment and disposal showed attempts to stop authorities from identifying the victims. Singapore police caught Shahrul and handed him over to Malaysian authorities.
The court found him guilty on both charges after hearing from prosecution and defence witnesses.
Family trauma and legal arguments influence sentence
Norfazera’s mother and sister gave impact statements about the family’s trauma and the brutal killings. They asked the court to give a matching sentence, including the death penalty.
Prosecutors wanted either the death penalty or back-to-back prison sentences. They pointed out how Shahrul had betrayed the victims as their supposed “protector.”
“The accused was supposed to protect the victims but instead killed them, including a child who was his stepson,” prosecutors said.
Shahrul’s lawyers asked for mercy, saying he had repented and regretted his actions. The defence noted his good behaviour during six years in prison since his arrest.
But prosecutors reminded the court that Shahrul had initially lied to the victims’ family about where they were after committing the crime, even though he eventually surrendered.
Judge Fernandis said the court considered “the concept of life for life” and the victims’ family emotions. The court also looked at the case as a whole and wider public interest.
