Police carrying the body to a truck to be taken to the hospital.
The victim’s body with stab wounds in her lower back.
KOTA KINABALU: A young woman was found stabbed to death in her rented room in Kampung Likas here early yesterday.
Housemates found the body of Juselina Rizal, 21, clad in pyjamas and with stab wounds in her lower back, lying in a pool of blood on a mattress around 9am.
It is learnt that about six hours earlier, the victim had a heated argument with her husband, who works as a shopping mall security guard, just before sahur (a pre-dawn meal before daytime fasting for Muslims).
It is said that the victim was renting the double-storey wooden house with six other families.
According to a housemate who did not want to be identified, he heard a woman’s scream around 4am but could not determine where the scream came from.
“I was in my house when I heard a woman’s scream.
“I went out to have a look but could not tell where the scream came from.
“Only around 10am this morning, I was surprised to see several police vehicles and police officers in front of my house,” he said.
Another housemate also claimed to have heard a woman’s scream around 4am but thought it was just a normal quarrel between a husband and wife.
“I did not realize that the argument had turned into something that none of us ever expected,” he said.
Meanwhile, city police chief ACP Jauteh Dikun, when met at the scene yesterday, said initial police investigations showed the woman was murdered between 2am and 4am.
“Police found a couple of stab wounds in the victim’s lower back, believed to be inflicted with a sharp object,” he said, adding that police found a 20 cm knife believed to be the murder weapon near the area.
Asked if the victim and suspect were husband and wife, Jauteh said police were still carrying out investigation, as there was no marriage certificate found.
“I was made to understand that there are husbands and wives and stay in the same house,” he said.
Jauteh said police are looking for a 33-year-old man who they believe could help in their investigation.
The victim’s body was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for a post-mortem and the case is investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.