Lawyers for Kim Jong-Nam murder suspects given key documents

Lawyers for two women charged with the Cold War-style assassination of the half-brother of North Korea's leader in Malaysia received a post-mortem report Friday, after prosecutors initially failed to share key documents. Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 25, and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong, 28, are accused of rubbing banned VX nerve agent in the face of Kim Jong-Nam as he waited to board a plane at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in February. The women, who face the death penalty if convicted, say they were duped into believing they were taking part in a reality TV show. "The documents (received) are the post-mortem report, the chemist report, the arrest report and some others," Naran Singh, representing Huong, told reporters at the prison where the suspects are being detained. The women's lawyers had earlier complained that prosecutors were reluctant to share documents which they said were crucial to mount a proper defence. Singh added that he expected to receive CCTV footage relating to the death soon. The handover of 44 bundles of documents took place at the heavily guarded Kajang prison to the south of the capital, with authorities citing security concerns. Seoul accuses North Korea of being behind the murder of Kim Jong-Nam's estranged relative, a charge Pyongyang denies. Police are still trying to trace four North Koreans suspected of having taken part in the murder plot but who are believed to have returned to Pyongyang immediately after the killing. Huong and Aisyah are in good health and will appear at a pre-trial hearing on July 28 before a full trial this year, their lawyers said. Gooi Soon Seng, representing the Indonesian, said he would request more time to prepare a defence as his team needs to consult with experts as far afield as Denmark about the VX nerve agent.