Mary died from wounds to neck, head; Marvin, Lamha deny the charges

Prosecution, on Thursday, stated that Pilipino IGMH nurse Mary Grace Oned Pineda died as a result of wounds to her neck and head.

Mary’s husband Marvin S. Y. Vargas, 30, had taken Mary’s body to IGMH in an ambulance on October 19, mere minutes after she had gone to home for her break from work. He initially claimed her death as a suicide by hanging, and later changed his story and said she had suddenly collapsed. 

Police found the death suspicious and opened an investigation into the case. 

Marvin was arrested in connection to the case on October 27. Haleemath Lamha, who Marvin was having an affair with, was arrested in connection to the case on December 16, 2021.

Marvin was charged with murder with intent in connection to her death. Lamha was charged as an accomplice to the murder. Lamha is also charged with two additional crimes; knowingly taking unauthorized control over the property of another and Lamha is also charged with two additional crimes; knowingly taking unauthorized control over the property of another.

A hearing was held at the Criminal Court on Thursday – both Marvin and Lamha in attendance. The prosecution read out the charges against both individuals, and detailed some information regarding the incident.

In this regard, the prosecution said that both Marvin and Lamha had made contradictory statements regarding Mary’s death on different occasions. They also said that Mary’s body was taken to IGMH from her apartment, minutes after Lamha had exited the building.

Whilst the prosecution stated that they will prove Mary was not suicidal person, they said that the defendants had created a scene to portray that she had committed suicide.

Despite the prosecution claiming that Mary was murdered by Marvin with assistance from Lamha, they have not been able to detail how the murder exactly happened.

Lawyers of both Marvin and Lamha said they both deny the charges against them during the hearing, noting that supporting evidence will be submitted to prove so.

Should the murder charge against Marvin be proven in court, he faces a 10-year jail sentence.

Lamha faces a minimum of 6 years in prison if convicted as an accomplice to the murder.

Lamha admitted to her affair with Marvin in an interview to Sun last year. She claimed they ended their relationship a day before Mary’s death, but got back together again after her death.