On 25 November 1977, after helping her father with an errand, ten-year-old Cheng went downstairs to return a bicycle she borrowed from her neighbour, Khayan Jasim.

Ten minutes after the police's arrival, Cheng's father identified his daughter's body based on the clothes she wore prior to her disappearance.

Chao determined that Cheng had died from asphyxia due to strangulation, and that she had been dead for an estimated period of between ten and 14 days at the time her body was found.

[10][11] Later, Usharani's uncle, Kalidass Sinnathamby Narayanasamy, who was an army lance corporal, was arrested and later sentenced to death for her murder in March 1980.

Prior to the crime, Quek was a friend of Cheng's father for twenty years, and they lived in the same kampong before both families relocated to their respective HDB flats in Chai Chee, and they had maintained contact.

[18] On 27 February 1979, Quek Kee Siong first stood trial in the High Court for the murder of Cheng Geok Ha.

[19] The prosecution was led by Fong Kwok Jen, while Quek was represented by defence lawyer Ching Chiak Yong.

The prosecution's evidence also showed that Quek was the same mysterious caller who made the two phone calls to harass Cheng's family.

A pair of scissors was also seized from Quek's home and they were matched to the marks made on the earrings, which were retrieved by the police from the pawn shop.

Upon the ten-year-old girl's death, Quek used Lim's newly-bought gunny sack to contain Cheng's body and threw it down the rubbish chute.

Chao stated that based on the extensive fractures on the neck and ribs, it could only be inferred that the girl was being strangled by Quek for a prolonged period of time, and a huge amount of force and pressure was exerted during the strangulation.

Justice Kulasekaram, who read the verdict, stated that both judges agreed with the prosecution that based on the forensic evidence given by Chao, it could be inferred that Quek did not apply light pressure to the neck as he claimed or that he accidentally suffocated the victim.

With reference to the prosecution's arguments, the judges were satisfied that Quek's actions came in line with the requirements of Section 300 of the Penal Code, and therefore fit the legal description of murder as an offence under the law.

Quek was reportedly emotionless as he heard the sentence and he stared at Cheng's parents for a moment while he was led away from the courtroom by police officers.

[41][42] After the loss of his appeal, Quek Kee Siong was hanged at Changi Prison for the murder of Cheng Geok Ha, as confirmed by a crime documentary.

[43] In January 1978, the murder of Cheng Geok Ha was reported as one of the top ten most shocking events covered by the media in the year 1977.

Cheng's sister added that over the recent years, she devoted herself to Buddhism and eventually came to forgive Quek and not hate him anymore, since he was no longer alive.