Did the victim know she was going to be next?

From The Star

Tuesday September 9, 2008 MYT 4:46:49 PM
Woman stabbed to death by robbers
CHRISTINA TAN


SHAH ALAM: Two armed robbers who stabbed a woman hostage to death were killed in a shootout when a crack police team stormed the house that had been set ablaze by the robbers.

Two other robbers who were outside the house were arrested during the 4.45am incident on Tuesday at the D'Kayangan housing estate here.

The victim and her family members were in the midst of their morning prayers and sahur when the robbers struck.

State CPO Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said the victim, a 41-year-old woman, had slash wounds on her throat and wrist.

“We do not know the exact cause of death yet and will wait for the post mortem report.

“The woman’s husband and two children, aged 18 and 20, escaped unharmed, “ he said.

DCP Khalid said the police recovered a . 32 Smith & Wesson revolver from one of the dead robbers.

The revolver was reported stolen from a senior government officer’s house here on Sept 3.

DCP Khalid said police had to storm the burning house after all negotiation efforts failed.

“We received an emergency call at about 4.45am and a patrol car in the vicinity responded.

“When they reached there they managed to nab two of the robbers and called for backup when they realised there were two armed men in the house holding up the family of four,” he added.

DCP Khalid then led a team to the crime scene and found that the businessman husband and two children had managed to escape.

He said the police asked the robbers to surrender but they refused.

“My men who had taken position at strategic locations saw them causing harm to the victim and saw that they had even set fire to the room where they were.

“When all negotiation efforts failed we had to act fast to try and rescue the victim,” he added.

The crack police team forced their way into the house and in the ensuing shootout killed the two armed robbers. The woman was found slumped on the floor and was bleeding.

She was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

It is learnt that the victim and her family members were the only family living in the new housing estate.