KUALA LUMPUR: The lawyer representing the family of Ivana Smit is unhappy with the delay in the handing over of the notes of proceedings of the inquest into the Dutch model’s death.
“Worse still, since the coroner has ruled that Ivana’s death was a misadventure, it has given sudden courage to the reticent Johnsons to give several interviews to well-known English and Dutch newspapers lately,” he said, referring to the American-Dutch couple that last saw Smit alive. Johnson and Almaz, who have maintained their innocence in the case, are now living in the US. They left Malaysia months after Smit’s death made headlines worldwide.They recently resurfaced after spending 18 months in hiding and insisted that Smit climbed over the edge of their balcony, reiterating that they had no part in her death.
Twenty-two witnesses took the stand in the inquest which ran for 21 days from August to December last year. Police originally classified Smit’s death as sudden death. However, an inquest was called last year after Smit’s family claimed there were elements of foul play and a cover-up by the police.