The conviction hearing for Marvin S. Y. Vargas, now called Yusuf, and his girlfriend, Maldivian nurse Haleemath Lamha, regarding the murder of Filipino nurse Mary Grace, is set for Monday.

The prosecution has accused Marvin of deliberate murder in relation to Mary’s death. Lamha is accused of being an accomplice in the murder, as well as facing further charges for the theft and improper use of controlled hospital medications.

Despite being charged in relation to the same offense, Marvin and Lamha are undergoing separate trials. The hearings in both matters wrapped up last month, and afterward, the court listened to the summary arguments.

A summary statement is the concluding submission presented by both parties following the evidentiary phase of the trial. It summarizes the main assertions and arguments, serving as the final statement before the judge delivers a verdict and determines guilt.

Filipino nurse Mary Grace Oned Pineda, who was killed while working at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), had her husband Marvin S. Y. Vargas, also a nurse at IGMH, charged with her murder.

Summary of the case

On October 19, minutes after returning home for her work break, Mary’s husband, Marvin, 30, transported her body to IGMH in an ambulance. He first asserted that she had taken her own life, but later modified his story to indicate that she had unexpectedly fallen.

The police deemed the situation suspicious and initiated an inquiry. Marvin was apprehended on October 27, 2021, and Lamha was taken into custody on December 16, 2021.

An autopsy revealed that Mary passed away due to blunt-force trauma to her head and neck. Investigators also discovered remnants of succinylcholine, a prohibited anesthetic employed to cause temporary paralysis, in her blood. Authorities subsequently found a used vial of succinylcholine and two additional controlled injections in Lamha’s residence.

If found guilty, Marvin could receive a life sentence. Lamha is looking at least six years in prison.

During his time in custody, Marvin embraced Islam and has subsequently changed his name to Yusuf. The court has been officially notified by the Islamic Ministry about his conversion.