The defence in the Aminulrasyid Amzah shooting trial today attacked the testimony of constable Mohd Izham Mahayuddin and cast doubts on key aspects of his account of the events that led to the fatal shooting of the teenager.

NONESalim Bashir, co-defence counsel for the accused Corporal Jenain Subi, questioned the veracity of the witness' testimony, particularly Mohd Izham’s claim that he had shot at the rear right tyre of the Proton Iswara driven by the victim that fateful night.

Following up on cross-examination by fellow defence lawyer M Athimulan, Salim accused Izham of falsifying his version of events at Bulatan Kayangan and the shooting of the tyre, saying it contradicted with the forensic report on the vehicle.

Izham insisted that he had hit the tyre with his Heckler and Koch MP5 sub-machine gun, even after he read out, on Salim instructions, the forensic report that stated that a bullet mark was found on the rim and not on the tyre of the Iswara's rear right wheel.

Salim: So did you shoot the tyre or the rim?

Izham: The tyre.

Salim: But the CSI (crime scene investigators) said the bullet hit the rim.

Izham: I don't know.

Salim: So are you lying or is the CSI lying?

Izham: I don't know.

Salim: So I put it to you that your shot missed.

Izham: I'm not sure.

Contradicting accounts

Salim also attacked Izham's accuracy in shooting, using test results of the constable’s weapons training to prove that he had scored the lowest among the four police officers who were involved in the fatal car chase.

The counsel then moved on to the moment the car crashed into a wall along Jalan Tarian, using references from star witness Azamuddin Omar's earlier testimony to cast doubt on Izham's account.

azlanHe countered Izham’s claim that he had seen the car’s brake lights come on as the car went over the road divider and towards the wall, pointing to Azamuddin’s testimony that the victim was already slumped over the passenger side when the crash took place.

Izham’s only response, again, was that he did not know.

Earlier, defence counsel Athimulan also pointed out that the witness’ claim that he had shot at the car’s tyre causing, it to deflate, contradicted forensic photographs that showed no sign of a flat tyre.

He added that Izham’s testimony that the tyre went flat contradicted with the report filed by his patrol partner Corporal Azahar Hashim that stated that the tyre had burst.

Asked if he agreed with the description in Azahar's report, Izham said “no”.

'Rear of car was slightly lifted, taking load off tyre'

Izham countered Athimulan's suggestion that Azahar had therefore lied in his report, saying that his partner had simply used the wrong terminology.

Corporal Jenain Subin is charged with culpable homicide in the shooting death of Aminulrasyid, 15, on April 26, and faces up to 30 years in jail and a fine if convicted.

During re-examination by deputy public prosecutor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar after the break for Friday prayers, Izham said while the tyre appeared to be in a good condition in the photographs taken by the forensic investigators, he was quite sure it was flat.

He acknowledged that the tyre did not appear to be flat in the photographs, but attributed this to the awkward position of the Iswara after it crashed into the wall.

"Maybe, due to the accident, the front of the car ended up in the drain and lifted the rear slightly, so that took off the load from the tyre," he told the Shah Alam sessions court.

Izham added that he did inspect the tyre briefly, pressing on it with his finger, but did not do anything more than that.

The hearing continues on Tuesday, with the prosecution calling Azahar as its next witness.