Malaysia: King Jong-nam murder trial visits crime scene

By P Prem Kumar

KUALA LUMPUR (AA) - As part of their ongoing trial, two foreign women accused of killing the North Korean leader's half-brother on Tuesday visited the Malaysian airport where they allegedly poisoned him.

The duo arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 10 am (0300GMT), escorted by over 200 heavily armed Malaysian police.

Wearing bulletproof vests and closely guarded by sharpshooters, suspects Indonesian Siti Aisyah and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong were brought to the airport with the judge, defense lawyers, and prosecutors.

The two suspects were brought around the airport to recap the crime scene, beginning at the self-check-in kiosks, where they allegedly rubbed VX nerve agent on the face of Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Jong-nam died within 20 minutes of the attack with the chemical, which is classified as a weapon of mass destruction.

Huong and Aisyah, both in their 20s, were also brought to a nearby cafe where a man allegedly wiped a liquid on the hands of one suspect before the attack took place.

Huong and Aisyah were accused of killing Jong-nam on Feb. 13 by rubbing the nerve agent VX on his face. The killing of Jong-un’s estranged brother made headlines worldwide.

The women, who were arrested a few days after the assassination and face the death penalty if convicted, have pleaded not guilty to murder.