Five years later, the bloodied body of factory worker Smaelmeeral Abdul Aziz was found at the foot of an HDB block in Stirling Road.

She was 32 and Tharema, now 39, is on trial for her murder

Testifying on Wednesday morning, Madam Hamelah Abdul Aziz, 42, told the High Court that she had advised her younger sister against the marriage as he would abuse her more once they were married.

Her fears were not misplaced. Her sister frequently complained that Tharema assaulted her.

On two occassions, Madam Shaelmeerah came over to her place with injuries. On one occasion, one side of her face was blue-black while the other cheek was swollen with a hand print showing.

Her sister would also ask her for small sums of money. The couple had financial problems as Tharema could not hold onto a steady job.

He was also suspicious and was against her doing the night shift as a factory worker.

If she disobeyed him, he would not let her rest the next day, questioning her endlessly on where she had been. The lack of sleep affected Shaelmeerah's work.

Madam Halemah, a housewife, said that she would give small sums of money to her sister for food and milk powder for the children.

The two sisters had been very close but Madam Smaelmeeral was cut off from the family as her marriage was not according to Muslim rites.

Tharema, being a Hindu, has also raised their two children, as Hindus.

The marriage hit the rocks after their second child was born in 2004.

Madam Smaelmeeral also caught Tharema sleeping with another woman in their flat.

In March last, she filed for divorce and in June, moved in with Madam Hamelah after she could not stand Tharema's torture any more.

While she was staying there, Tharema hit one of his friends, identified as Mani, with a bottle.

Madam Hamelah said that Mani did help her sister financially and Madam Smaelmeeral was planning to marry Mani.

She continues her testimony after lunch.