KOTA KINABALU: The murder suspect detained over the death of his ex-fiancee allegedly stabbed the woman eight times after she refused his pleas to get back together.

Police investigations found that there was also an element of jealousy in the crime.

The 33-year-old suspect had, apparently due to remorse, called the police himself and waited at the scene until they arrived.

Kota Kinabalu deputy OCPD Supt Kalsom Idris said the man had earlier met up with the woman, a shop assistant at a mall in the city centre, at about noon on Monday (May 29) so that he could persuade her not to end their engagement.

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She said, however, the 22-year-old victim rejected his appeal as she had made up her mind due to personal reasons.

“Because of that, the suspect, who was enraged, stabbed her eight times which (we believe) led to her death,” she said in a statement on Tuesday (May 30).

“At 12.15pm on Monday, the police received a call from a man who said he had accidentally stabbed his former fiancee with a knife,” she added.

Supt Kalsom said a police team rushed to the scene and found the woman lying in a pool of blood.

“Also found at the location was the suspect, who was apprehended by a mall security guard,” she said, adding that police then took the suspect into custody.

The woman was still breathing when paramedics arrived at the scene, but succumbed to her injuries at 1pm despite their efforts to save her, Supt Kalsom said.

“We have recovered the knife believed to have been used in the incident while the body has been sent for an autopsy.

“With the suspect’s arrest, we consider this case solved and we will soon wrap up the probe under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder,” said Supt Kalsom.