Coroner's Court rules Dutch model's death due to misadventure (Updated)
Friday, 8 Mar 201912:05 PM MYT
by nurbaiti hamdan
KUALA LUMPUR: The Coroner's Court on Friday (March 8) ruled that the death of Ivana Esther Robert Smit, a Dutch model who was found dead on the sixth floor of a KL condominium here on Dec 7, 2017, was due to a misadventure.
Sessions court judge Mahyon Talib, who sat a coroner in the inquest into the death of Smit, said there was no foul play nor were there individuals involved in the case.
She said Smit died between 6.50am and 2pm on Dec 7, 2017 and her injuries were consistent with falling from a certain height.
She also agreed with Dr Frank Van De Goot, who testified in the inquest, that Smit died before her body was found on the balcony of the sixth floor.
“The mark on her arm, trauma behind her head, a broken bottle and the DNA of Alex Johnson under Smit's nails suggested there was an altercation between Johnson, Smit and Luna Almaz (Johnson's wife).
“But the court could not ascertain what really happened between the three of them.
“Therefore the court rules that the deceased's death was due to a misadventure,” she said on Friday.
Dutch ambassador to Malaysia, Karin Mossenlechner was present in court today. Smit's family did not attend the proceeding.
The inquest started on Aug 8, last year.
DPP N. Joy Jothi assisted the inquest and called 22 witnesses to the stand.
Lawyer Sankara Nair represented Smit's family.
In December 2017, the 19-year-old victim, who has dual Dutch and Belgian citizenship, fell from the 20th floor of an apartment in Jalan Dang Wangi, KL and landed on a balcony on the sixth floor.
It is believed that Smit was in the apartment with American businessman Johnson, 44, and his Kazakh wife Luna, 31, after spending a night out with them.
The Johnsons have admitted to having a threesome with her on the night itself and also months before her death.
Malaysian police classified the case as sudden death pending the results of the post-mortem and pathology tests.
However, in June last year, her family offered a US$50,000 (RM198,725) reward to anyone who could provide information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the Dutch model's death.
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/03/08/coroners-court-rules-dutch-models-death-due-to-misadventure/#0h9AmMvFyutTjpmO.99
