The man on trial in Bali for the brutal murder of eight-year-old Engeline is continuing to make some shocking and disturbing accusations as he testifies.
Agus Hamda May, the family’s former gardner, continues to blame the killing on Engeline’s adoptive mother, Margriet, who is also facing trial for the murder.
Engeline was found buried in her adoptive family’s backyard, just over a month after the family had reported her missing.
Agus brought things to an even creepier place when answering questions from the judges in Denpasar District Court on Tuesday (Jan. 19) this week.
Judge Edward Harris Sinaga apparently worked to dig deeper into the odd relationship between Agus and Margriet as he questioned Agus on taking his pants off in front of Margriet. It wasn’t totally clear from the spotty local news coverage of the hearing if the judge was focusing on something Agus previously alleged, about Margriet trying to make him rape Engeline and strip, or insinuating that the two had some sort of risque business going on.
“When you were asked to take off your pants by Margriet in her room, you were naked, right? And if you went to the room to take the pants, you were definitely naked, right? You were intimate, right?”, the judge asked.
“I took off my pants in Margriet’s room, I went to the room only wearing underwear, and I went back to the room to take my pants,” Agus replied to Judge Sinaga, the dialogue as quoted by Tribun Bali.
In addition to talking about getting naked in Margriet’s room, Agus also admitted his involvement in Engeline’s death with Margriet. He reportedly said he helped bury the girl and conceal her death, adding that he’s prepared for the death penalty.
“If you want to execute me, I am ready, because I’m responsible for my actions. I’ve explained everything accurately, there’s nothing I’m hiding from your honor,” Agus told Judge Sinaga.
While it may sound like Agus could have been putting everything on line (including his life), Judge Achmad Peten Sili said he’s not convinced by Agus, since the defendant originally confessed to being Engeline’s killer in a police document but now he’s saying Margriet was the killer.
“Up until now, you have not been honest, Gus. Don’t make us decide wrong and execute someone,” Judge Sili stated.
Throughout the hearing, Judge Sinaga would often remind Agus to keep his information factual and not cover anything up, echoing similar concerns with Judge Sili that they wouldn’t want to execute an innocent person, reports say.
Agus ended up telling the court on Tuesday that Engeline was murdered by Margriet in her room and he just followed the orders of his former employer, clarifying that he was under pressure. He testified that he saw Margriet slam Engeline down on May. 16 and she threatened that she would have him killed if he were to tell anyone. But paradoxically, he also says she offered him Rp 200 million to keep his mouth shut.
Judge Sinaga also pointed out that Agus and Margriet have been mutually recriminating each other throughout the trial, so someone must be lying.
“I am angry. Why hasn’t Margriet confessed to killing Engeline?”, Agus said.
After Agus’ testimony is finished, the trial will continue with the prosecution’s demands, scheduled for Feb. 2.
