TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-Jessica Kumala Wongso, the defendant of Wayan Mirna Salihin’s murder, claimed that she has never told about her love life to Mirna. She has denied the testimony of Mirna’s father, Darmawan Salihin, who said in the trial that Jessica was furious with his daughter for asking her to break up with her boyfriend in Australia.

“We lived in different countries, even if I wanted to share [my love life story], I would have only share it to my closest friends,” Jessica said yesterday, July 12, 2016 in Central Jakarta District Court. She also admitted to have never been given advice by Mirna on her love life. “We had a good relationship, but were not that close.”

Darmawan suspected Mirna’s advice was the motive behind Jessica’s fury that lead her to put poison into a cup of coffee drunk by his daughter when they met at Grand Indonesia shopping mall on December 8, 2015. Darmawan claimed that he was told about Jessica’s fury by his daughter on October 2014.

Darmawan’s testimony had been corroborated by Arief Sumarko, Mirna’s husband. Arief said that the story was told personally by Mirna and he then told it to his father-in-law. In the then meeting between Jessica and Mirna, Jessica was outraged and immediately left Mirna in a shopping mall in Kelapa Gading. “She said that she was afraid to meet Jessica [again] after the incident,” Arief said.

Arief was aware that Jessica had recontacted her wife in December and met her on December 8. Jessica had returned from Australia. “Mirna was willing to meet with Jessica and she thought it was the right time to make peace,” he said. Therefore, Mirna came with Hani Juwita Bun, also Jessica’s friend during her design study in Australia.

In yesterday’s trial, Jessica had also denied the accusation of faking an asthma attack in the hospital after Mirna’s death. Mirna’s family had been suspicious of Jessica for being able to kept her composure when she helped Mirna. “She had a sudden asthma attack, but was fine soon after,” said Sendi, Mirna’s twin.

“I didn’t fake an asthma attack,” Jessica said when given the opportunity to respond.

Darmawan did not say much about Jessica’s denial. Public prosecutor Ardito Muardi said he would bring forth four witnesses in today’s trial. “Witness Hani Juwita Bun and three cafe's employees,” he said.

NINIS CHAIRUNNISA