Girly's Parents: "Case is almost closed." October 27, 2002 Having checked Malaysia's The Star website for any coverage on the Henning verdict, I didn't find any. So, I fired-off an email to Malaysian journalist Bernard See to make sure he was aware of the verdict. Mr. See has written stories about Girly's story in the past.
This morning, I received the following response:
Dear Mark,
Thanks for your e-mail. We had no idea that the verdict was given on Friday. Thanks. Here is a copy of our report to appear on Monday (28/10). Feel free to quote from it, especially the interview with the father.
By BERNARD SEE
PENANG: The 49-year-old woman responsible for the death of Malaysian-born Girly Chew-Hossencofft was found guilty of murder by a jury in the United States on Friday. Linda Henning could either face a death or life imprisonment sentence. She could well be the first woman to since the 19th century die by lethal injection in New Mexico if Chief Judge W. John Brennan decides to pass the death sentence. Girly’s father Chew Shing Kheng, 67, said he was satisfied with the verdict and hoped that the death penalty would be passed.“For me, the case is almost closed, I have come to accept that my eldest daughter, who would have been 39 on Aug 27, is dead despite the fact that her body had yet to be recovered following her disappearance on Sept 9, 1999. “I was hoping she could still be alive but now I think it’s time to let go. “I have prayed daily for the US authorities to eventually find her remains so that last rites could be conducted,” he said. Chew said the prosecutors, had called his son, Andrew, who was in New Mexico on Oct 15 to give testimony, about the verdict. He added that he (Andrew) read out a letter sentby his sister two hours before she was kidnapped, Girly’s husband Diazien Hossencofft, 36, was earlier convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment plus 60 years’ jail for first-degree murder. He is to serve an additional 364 days for 12 other charges which included kidnapping and six counts of conspiracy.
Chew said her daughter was a staunch believer in the Goddess of Mercy, Kuan Yin, whom she prayed to daily to seek for “protection” from her husband whom she knew was out to get her. “Other than seeking divine protection, Girly also took up karate lessons in the five months before her disappearance three years ago. She knew what Diazian was capable of and wanted to protect herself. “She had also told her colleagues at the Bank of America Uptown branch that if anything happened to her they should fear the worst and they should suspect her husband,” he said. Diazien was put on the witness stand during Henning’s 11-day trial where he told jurors that he wanted his wife dead because she had sought custody of his three-year-old son. -- ends.
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