Domestic abuse conflict, wife dies believed to be strangled by husband

KOTA KINABALU - A woman believed to be murdered was found dead at a rental room on the first floor of a shop lot in Jalan Pantain on Tuesday.

In the incident at 5.30am, the woman in her 20s was believed to be murdered by her husband before she was found by neighbours overhearing the conflict.

Her husband in his 30s was found laying down injured with cuts believed to be from suicide attempts.

Kota Kinabalu district police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Zaidi Abdullah said the victim was believed to be murdered by her husband as bruises were found on her neck suspected to be from strangulation along with wounds on her forehead.

"We believe the case is related to a domestic conflict between the victim and her husband as the neighbours heard arguments between the pair before the incident.

"The neighbours had found the couple lying down around 5.30am and informed the police of the matter.

"The witness had been delayed in informing the police as their phone did not have any credit," he said at the scene.

Zaidi said early investigations found the victim's husband was a restaurant worker in the area while she was a housewife.

Further investigation on the case is ongoing under Section 302 of the Penal code for murder.

The man was sent to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) for treatment.