SUNGAI PETANI: A man who caused the death of his estranged wife by torching her last month, was charged with the murder at the magistrate's court here today.
However, no plea was recorded from accused V. Mathiyalagan, 46, when the charge was read to him before magistrate Adibah Husna Zainal Abidin.
He was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code which carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction.
Mathiyalagan committed the offence at a house No 626, Lorong Fairuz 3, Taman Arked here about noon on May 26.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Faraheen Yahya prosecuted and the accused was unrepresented.
The court set Aug 10, for mention pending an autopsy report.
It was reported that in the incident, Mathiyalagan had allegedly hurled Molotov cocktails at his wife R. Ratna, 44, who was cooking at her house.
The mother of three was rushed to Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital for burn but died two weeks later.
