SHAH ALAM, MALAYSIA: The two men were brothers-in-law and came from India to work as barbers.

An argument over how to handle the problems they had with their employer proved fatal.

The trouble started when M. Murugesan went to see his brother-in-law, G. Subramaniam, at his home one evening to iron out the problems with their employer.

The talk did not go well and ended with Subramaniam beating up Murugesan.

Murugesan, who was wounded in the leg and eye, left only to return a few hours later.

He slipped into the house, filled a frying pan with cooking oil, heated it, and poured it over Subramaniam, who was sleeping.

Murugesan then hit him on the head with the frying pan and, to dissuade any pursuit, threw curry powder at the victim.

Subramaniam was admitted to hospital with 80 per cent burns on his body.

He died a week later.

Yesterday, Murugesan was sentenced by the High Court to 11 years' jail for manslaughter.

He pleaded guilty to committing the offence in Jalan Kampung Jawa, Batu 31/2 in Klang at 3am on Feb 23, 2006.

Murugesan was initially charged with murder and had claimed trial.

He changed his plea after the prosecution offered a reduced charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Judicial commissioner Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim ordered the sentence to begin from Murugesan's arrest on Feb 24, 2006.

DPP Muhamad Iskandar Ahmad prosecuted while G.K. Ganesan appeared for the Murugesan.

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