Retiree gets two years' jail for stabbing wife to death, prosecution to appeal
A retiree who stabbed his wife to death in their flat was given two years’ jail in the High Court on Monday (16 October) as the presiding judge took into account the man’s mental state for sentencing.
The prosecution had sought a nine-year jail term for Kong Peng Yee, 69, while the defence asked for a five-year jail term. But Justice Choo Han Teck said that a tough punishment for Kong “is probably not the most appropriate response to a man like the accused here, and certainly not the nine years imprisonment sought” by the prosecution.
Kong had pleaded guilty to a single charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Kong, who was originally charged with murder, stabbed Wong Chik Yeok, 62, in their flat at Compassvale Crescent on 13 March 2016. An autopsy revealed 189 injuries on the deceased.
In his written judgement, Justice Choo noted that the “retributive principle” requires that an accused be given the punishment that fits an offence. Deterrence is “not appropriate” against Kong because his mental condition has been certified by a doctor from the Institute of Mental Health to be in remission and that he is safe to be taken care of by his family, Justice Choo said.
Kong had his charge reduced after a psychiatric report on 9 May 2017 found that his mental state was impaired by psychotic delusions. He could have faced life imprisonment, or up to 20 years’ jail, and a fine for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. As he is above 50, he cannot be caned.
Strange behaviour after operation
Kong’s behaviour started to change after he went for a cataract surgery in January last year. After the surgery, he started to suffer from constipation, insomnia and weakened knees.
When his wife and younger daughter started to give him prune juice to counter his constipation, he refused, believing that they were trying to torture him. Kong also refused to take laxatives as he believed they were poisonous.
The court heard that on 12 March last year, after a medical check-up, Kong felt that someone was trying to harm him. He thought that he was going to die soon from some illness, although the medical report was not adverse.
Later that evening, his elder daughter suggested to her parents that they should stay at her home because she thought a change of environment might be beneficial for Kong. The couple agreed to her suggestion. The next day, Kong started acting strange while he was in a church. He made “incomprehensible” noises while he, his wife and elder daughter were in a lift.
During a sermon, Kong also told a stranger sitting next to him that people were poisoning him. Kong and his family members then left for the Compassvale flat after the church service. The elder daughter later left to fetch her sibling and left her parents alone at home.
After waking up from a nap, Kong claimed that “roaring” sounds had woken him up. It was then that he began his stabbing spree. Kong took a knife from the kitchen and stabbed his wife on her back. He then stabbed her from the front repeatedly. His wife put up a struggle and Kong dropped the knife.
But Kong continued attacking his wife by using a chopper that he took from the kitchen. He only stopped hacking at her when he realised she had died.
‘The appropriate punishment’
Justice Choo said he had no hesitation in finding that Kong’s psychotic delusions “substantially affected the mental responsibility of the accused”. “What is the appropriate punishment for a man whose act was guided by thoughts that entered unbidden into his mind? There is no clear answer,” he added.
But Justice Choo also said the law required that punishment be meted out to Kong and he backdated Kong’s sentence to the date of his remand on 13 March 2016. “The sooner the accused is returned to the care of the family, the better,” he added.
Kong was allowed to have a brief moment with his family after the court session was adjourned. His daughters, who were in court, declined to speak to reporters when approached. Speaking on behalf of Kong’s family, Defence Counsel Sunil Sudheesan told reporters the sentence was an “unexpected surprise” for the family.
With the backdated sentence and one-third remission for good behaviour, Kong could be released as early as later today (16 October), Sudheesan said. But Kong’s possible early release has caused “some uncertainty” for the family, he added, without specifying.
Deputy Public Prosecutors Sarah Shi and Dora Tay told the court that the prosecution plans to file an appeal against the sentence.
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