SINGAPORE — Lawyers defending two alleged murderers who are part of a gang behind the horrific Kallang slashings three years ago objected to some evidence prosecutors plan to adduce, as the trial began yesterday.

Opening his case against Micheal Anak Garing, 25, and Tony Anak Imba, 34, Deputy Public Prosecutor Anandan Bala indicated he will adduce evidence relating to three counts of robbery with hurt the duo are also facing, although these charges have been stood down pending the outcome of their murder charge.

This is because the evidence is “relevant in establishing the element of common intention”, he said.

Defence lawyers, however, objected to this, saying it will have a “prejudicial effect” on their clients’ cases.

The impasse led the judge to adjourn the trial to Tuesday for the defence to submit on the admissibility of the evidence.

Micheal and Tony are the last two of the seven “Kallang gangsters” to go on trial for a robbery spree in May 2010 that led to the death of a foreign worker and serious injuries to two foreign workers and a young Singaporean.

An eighth purported accomplice, Donny Anak Meluda, 22, is still at large.

DPP Anandan said yesterday that through leading evidence from 76 witnesses, the prosecution will show that Micheal, Tony, Donny and Hairee Anak Landak — who has been convicted and sentenced to 33 years’ jail and 24 strokes of the cane — hatched the plan to commit robberies in Geylang during a drinking session on May 29, 2010.

He added that the evidence will show that Micheal had used a parang to slash all four victims the men robbed.

The prosecution will also lead evidence to prove that Tony bashed the first victim’s head with a brick and floored two other victims.

The four victims were set upon in the span of slightly over an hour and the culprits made away with three handphones and at least S$370.

Those who have been dealt with were sentenced to jail and caning.

Micheal and Tony have been charged under a less severe limb of the murder offence, which gives the court the discretion to impose life imprisonment with caning, if they are convicted.