JOHOR BARU: The elder sister of murder victim Mira Sharmila Samsusah or fondly known as Bella claimed that the latter had wanted to end her relationship with her abusive boyfriend.
Norhisham Samsusah, 36, said she could not accept her sister's tragic death.
"This is such a disappointing and tragic end for Bella, who prior to this wanted to break up with that man.
"I have neither come to terms with this, nor have I been able to accept her death," said Norhisham, who is a school clerk.
She said it was a huge loss for the family, especially for Bella's two young children.
She said Bella's children Eusuf, 5 and Maream, 2, are still very confused. She said the children always talk about their painful experience seeing their mother being beaten and abused by her boyfriend.
Norhisham said that Eusuf had complained that his mother was constantly being beaten by the boyfriend when they used to go out together. She claimed that the suspect used to get angry very often with Bella.
"Bella's had child also asked, 'why is 'Mummy' appearing on television?' Mummy had gone out with 'Uncle'. 'Uncle' has been caught.
"Bella's child, who calls me Umi, asked me, 'why isn't mummy coming back? They will tell me, 'Umi, have you told the police that before this, 'Uncle' had beaten up Mummy?'
"The last time that 'Uncle' always beat their 'Mummy', Bella's child confided about it with me. The suspect is known to Bella's child because the man used to go out with them and the child would plead to him not to hit Bella," said Norhisham when met at the Forensics Department of the Sultan Ismail Hospital (HSI) here earlier today (Jan 24).
Norhisham, who lives in Johor Baru said that after this, she will care look after Bella's children who are currently with a caregiver.
She said before the tragic incident, Bella expressed her intention for them to stay together in Johor Baru beginning the next school holidays.
When asked if the family could accept the fact that Bella's remains were decomposed, Norhisham said the family is still struggling to accept it because it all happened so fast.
"It is a very tragic end. It was somewhat expected. With what was said on the first and second day, I had already expected that the man (suspect) knew something: the way he spoke was as though he was lying.
"In the end, we found out it ended like that way (murder) . At least, her remains were found," said Norhisham, citing that the family has now some closure because the remains were found.
Bella's remains are expected to be laid to rest at the Banang Muslim cemetery near Batu Pahat today.
Bella's boyfriend, Mohammad Haikal Mahfuz, 24, was charged in the Batu Pahat magistrate's court today with the murder of the woman last month.
The accused nodded in understanding as the charge was read in the presence of Magistrate Nur Asidah A Rahman, but no plea was recorded.
According to the charge, the former postman was accused of murdering Bella, 32, between Jalan Kelapa Barli, Taman Soga, and Jalan Parit Besar in Kampung Parit Besar and an abandoned house in Lorong Imam Jailani, Tongkang Pechah, Batu Pahat.
The incident occurred between 11pm and 5am, between Dec 14 and 15.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain had also confirmed today that Bella's cause of death was because a fracture to her skull because of being hit with a blunt object.
