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Motorcyclist faces jail for causing death of girlfriend who rode pillion

Muhammad Emyza Abdullah pleaded guilty to one charge of causing death by a negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide. (Yahoo News Singapore file photo)
Muhammad Emyza Abdullah pleaded guilty to one charge of causing death by a negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide. (Yahoo News Singapore file photo)

A supper outing after a night of drinking turned tragic for a motorcyclist and his pillion riding girlfriend when he lost control of the vehicle and skidded last December, a court heard.

The young woman, Hamrina Iryani Hamsan, 22, died on the spot from head injuries.

At the State Courts on Tuesday (18 December), the motorcyclist, Muhammad Emyza Abdullah, 27, was convicted of causing death by a negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide. He pleaded guilty to the charge of failing to keep a proper control of the motorcycle.

He is expected to be sentenced on 8 January.

Couple drank at pub, wanted to get supper

On 2 December last year, the couple went to a pub along Arab Street for drinks at about 11.20pm. Emyza had one can of beer and a shot of Tequila.

They decided to leave for supper two-and-a-half hours later, at about 1.50am the next day.

The couple chatted while travelling on Emyza’s motorcycle. He rode along Balestier Road towards Moulmein Road, and then made a left turn into the slip road to the CTE towards SLE.

As they were travelling along the slip road at about 2.35am, Emyza suspected that his girlfriend might have fallen asleep. He turned his head over his right shoulder to check on her, and also tapped on her right leg to ask if she was sleeping.

When he turned his head back to look forward, Emyza lost control of the motorcycle which then veered to the right and grazed onto the right side kerb. The vehicle mounted the grass verge and skidded, and the couple fell to the ground.

Hamrina was pronounced dead by paramedics at 2.47am.

Emyza had a wrist fracture and multiple grazes. He was given hospitalisation leave from 3 December to 27 December last year.

For causing death by a negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide, Emyza faces up to 2 years’ jail and a fine.

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