KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 18 -- Former Court of Appeal judge Datuk Seri Shaik Daud Md Ismail has died at the age of 90 at his home here this morning.

Lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah confirmed the news, telling Free Malaysia Today that Shaik Daud passed away at about 11.11am after being discharged from hospital yesterday at his family's request so that he could spend his final hours at home.

"He was discharged at the family's request so that he could be at home," Shafee said.

Recalling their first meeting in the early 1980s when Shaik Daud was serving as a deputy public prosecutor, Shafee described him as the finest trial and appellate judge he had appeared before.

"He was the best trial judge and appellate judge I have ever appeared ...