A Malaysian-based Nigerian, Ibekwe Emeka Augustine, has been sentenced to death by hanging for murdering a four-year-old boy in 2020.

Mr Augustine has been on trial for murdering his four-year-old step-grandson by throwing him from the third floor of an apartment and also sexually assaulting his 25-year-old stepdaughter, Malaysian local media reported on Friday.

High Court judge K. Muniandy sentenced Mr Augustine to death after convicting him of murder on Friday.

“You are sentenced to death by hanging until you are dead. However, you have the right to appeal against the sentence at the Court of Appeal,” Mr Muniandy said.

The judge also sentenced Mr Augustine to one year in prison for attempted suicide, five years for sexually assaulting his then 25-year-old stepdaughter, five years for attempted murder of his son, then aged 7, and 14 years for causing grievous hurt to his wife.

“All these inhumane and despicable acts of the accused could have been stopped, as the accused’s wife attempted to do so, but the accused persisted even after grievously injuring her.

“The victims were all traumatised by the entire incident and had to run away from the home before anything more dreadful was inflicted on them,” Mr Muniandy said.

Before the judge pronounced judgment, Mr Augustine had pleaded for leniency, stating, “I regret everything that happened, and it will not happen again. I remember going swimming and playing football with him. Please have mercy on me. Everything is in your hands.”

Mr Augustine’s counsel, Zulkifli Awang, had pleaded for leniency over the death sentence, arguing that his client threw the child from the third floor under drug intoxication.

“The facts show that his actions were due to schizophrenia and that he was of unsound mind, although the court had ruled that self-intoxication is not a defence,” Mr Awang said.

“But I want to stress that what occurred was due to his insanity, due to drug consumption. He has been in remand since his arrest, and he is repentant. Imprisonment would be a more appropriate sentence. It is not necessary to take another life.”