Woman accused of trying to murder ex-lesbian lover
The lesbian lovers had a tempestuous relationship that was littered with quarrels and violent fights.
In July 2012, after a year together, one of them, Giselle Shi Jia Wei, decided to break up after yet another fight.
A week later, Shi met her former lover, Miss Ummul Qurratu 'Ain Abdul Rahman, for supper. They ended up in a Geylang hotel, where they had sex.
Afterwards, as they lay naked in bed watching TV, Shi tried in vain to reconcile with Miss Ummul.
Shi then straddled Miss Ummul's left thigh, raised both arms, which were holding an object, before bringing them down suddenly.
Miss Ummul felt a piercing pain in her chest and realised she had just been stabbed with a knife.
Shi then stabbed her former lover again.
These horrific details emerged yesterday as the trial of Shi, now 25, for the attempted murder of Miss Ummul, now 22, began in the High Court.
The alleged attack happened in the Golden Star Hotel at Geylang Lorong 8 on July 22, 2012.
The two had met in 2010 and begun their tumultuous relationship in July 2011. (See reports on facing page.)
At the start of the hearing, Deputy Public Prosecutor Sellakumaran applied for a gag order to protect the victim's identity, given the "rather unusual circumstances of the case".
After considering the application, Justice Choo Han Teck said he was "not satisfied" that the gag order was necessary.
Miss Ummul, who took the stand, said in her statement that they had broken up on July 14, 2012, after a fight.
Although Shi had initiated the break-up, she later wanted to patch up. Miss Ummul was against it but agreed to meet Shi "for closure".
On July 21, they met at Sembawang MRT station for supper but decided to take a taxi to Geylang Lorong 8 to eat at a dim sum stall.
PULLED AWAY
Miss Ummul said Shi kept trying to hold her hand, but she pulled her hand away.
After supper, they checked into the hotel, watched TV and fell asleep. At about 1pm the next day, they woke up and had sex.
Miss Ummul was lying in bed watching TV when Shi asked her if there was any chance of them reconciling.
Miss Ummul said no.
Shi "was becoming more desperate and looked like she was going to cry," Miss Ummul said.
She moved her handbag from the bedside table and put it on the bed before straddling Miss Ummul's thigh. She asked again if they were really not getting back together.
Miss Ummul told the court that when she said no, she saw Shi holding something with both hands and bringing it down on her chest.
Feeling a sharp pain, Miss Ummul saw a knife sticking out of her chest. She struggled with Shi and pulled the 10cm blade out, but Shi stabbed her a second time.
Miss Ummul passed out for what felt like a few minutes. When she came to, she said she saw Shi slitting her wrists. She also saw blood on her own chest and body.
After a while, Shi covered her with a blanket and said: "Now we can be together".
Fearing for her life, Miss Ummul begged Shi to let her go to the bathroom. Shi told her to relieve herself where she was.
Miss Ummul said it was her "last wish" to go to the bathroom.
Relenting, Shi agreed but followed her into the bathroom. She sat in front of Miss Ummul, who was sitting on the toilet, and held her hand.
Miss Ummul felt Shi's grip weaken gradually and managed to run out of the room.
Bleeding from her stab wounds, she saw "a vision of two people" and shouted to them: "Help, somebody is trying to kill me."
They helped her to the lobby where a hotel employee called for an ambulance.
Miss Ummul told the court: "I remember being carried... being transferred and being in an ambulance. I asked (the paramedics) several times if I was going to die.
"I told them that it was very painful."
The trial continues today.
"Now we can be together."
- What Giselle Shi Jia Wei allegedly said to Miss Ummul Qurratu 'Ain Abdul Rahman after stabbing her twice in the chest
Pair had violent history
When cross-examined by defence lawyer Jayakumar Naidu yesterday, Miss Ummul Qurratu 'Ain Abdul Rahman admitted to hitting Giselle Shi Jia Wei three times during their relationship.
ARAB STREET BAR
When the couple went to a bar in the Arab Street area, it happened to be Miss Ummul's birthday.
An ex-girlfriend went over to wish her "Happy Birthday". Miss Ummul said Shi got jealous and went to talk to her own ex-girlfriend.
When Miss Ummul approached them, Shi gave her the cold shoulder.
Miss Ummul was upset and left the bar. Shi ran after her to ask her to stay by pulling her arm.
Agitated, she slapped Shi.
IN SHI'S HOME
They were arguing in Shi's bedroom when the confrontation turned violent and Miss Ummul hit her.
MINK CLUB
On July 14, 2012, the pair went to Mink, a club at the Pan Pacific Hotel.
While giving her friend a hug, Miss Ummul spilled some of her drink on Shi's shoes.
Shi left in a huff to clean herself. Miss Ummul went after her and followed her into a toilet cubicle.
Inside, Shi became hysterical and stripped, throwing her clothes and accessories on the floor.
She told Miss Ummul: "What's the point of dressing up for you when all you want to do is spend time with your friends?"
She also tried to hit Miss Ummul, who managed to duck the blow.
While trying to calm Shi down, Miss Ummul hit her a few times.
During the commotion, she said someone threw an ice bucket into the cubicle, hitting Shi on the head.
A club bouncer and hostess then escorted the pair out of the club.
Cracks started appearing three months into relationship
Freelance musician Ummul Qurratu 'Ain Abdul Rahman and Giselle Shi Jia Wei became a couple in July 2011.
Testifying in court yesterday, Miss Ummul said they were happy for about three months before cracks started appearing.
They had their first major argument after friends of Miss Ummul's ex-girlfriend bad-mouthed her to Shi.
But they worked things out.
Later, after Miss Ummul moved into Shi's family home, she tried to see her family once a week.
But every time she told Shi that she was going home, the accused would kick up a fuss, Miss Ummul told the court.
She also had to remain inside Shi's room whenever the latter's parents were around.
Things came to a head in May 2012 when Shi's mother discovered Miss Ummul was staying there and asked her to leave.
The couple packed their things and stayed in a number of Geylang hotels before going to Johor Baru, Malaysia, where they stayed for about a month.
During this time, they commuted to Singapore for work.
As the relationship wore on, Miss Ummul said Shi got increasingly calculating and they started fighting over minor things like toiletries.
While cross-examining Miss Ummul, defence lawyer Jayakumar Naidu asked who the more dominant one was in the relationship.
When she said she did not understand his question, Mr Naidu said: "Who is the 'male' and who is the 'female'?"
In response, Miss Ummul said: "From my outlook, you can guess I'm the male. But I didn't (decide on everything)."
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