Man stabs wife to death, as son looks on

Indah Setiawati ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 07/22/2008 10:14 AM  |  City

Police are searching for a man who allegedly killed his wife at their house on Jl. Sumur bandung I Cimanggis, Depok, on Sunday.

Depok Police detective Comr. Rochimat said Monday police are still investigating the case and had named the husband a fugitive.

He said the husband, Rudi Hambali, might have fled to Bogor, West Java.

"The husband and wife were in the process of divorcing. They may have been arguing over custody of their children when Rudi killed his wife," he said.

Regina Ilvana Hambali, 32, was found dead with three stab wounds to her body. Police also found signs of strangulation on her neck and confiscated a knife found in the house, which was allegedly used to stab Regina.

Peter Reverlino, one of the couple's children, told police he witnessed the murder. He said his parents were quarreling before his father killed his mother.

Depok Police chief Sr. Comr. Gatot Eddy P. said the 12-year-old boy was playing video games while his parents were arguing in the kitchen around 6.30 p.m., as reported by Kompas.com

Rudi fled after allegedly killing Regina, leaving the boy in the house with his dead mother.

Regina's body was brought to Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital in Central Jakarta for an autopsy.

The victim's uncle, SY Wenas, confirmed that Rudi and Regina were to be officially divorced in about three months.

Gatot said Peter was the only witness to the murder.

Rudi could be charged with violating Criminal Code Article 339 for murder. If convicted, he could face the death sentence, Gatot said.

Dedy, a resident in the neighborhood, said he caught a glimpse of Rudi leaving his house on the afternoon of the murder, saying he did not know at the time that Rudi might have killed his wife.

He said he heard the couple arguing followed by silence before he saw Rudi leave his house.

"We often heard them quarrel, but we never knew what they were arguing about," Dedy said.

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