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Tadakatsu Honda
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7 years' jail, 6 strokes of the cane for killing flat-mate
No mitigating circumstances, says judge
by Zul Othman
05:55 AM May 07, 2010
<script type="text/javascript"> var fontIndex = 2; var fontSize = new Array('0.63em', '0.69em', '0.75em', '0.88em', '1em', '1.13em'); </script> SINGAPORE - Odd-job worker Lee Sze Chan (picture) was sentenced to seven years in jail and six strokes of the cane yesterday for causing the death of former flat-mate Lee Min Leong in a fight last year.
The 33-year-old, who originally faced a murder charge, had pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a reduced charge of culpable homicide.
Lee had told the court he was angered by the fact that the dead man, who was also known as "Ah Tee", had tried to stab him again.
During the fight last year, Ah Tee had taken out a knife and pointed it at Lee.
It brought back memories of a fight in 2007 when they were flat-mates.
Ah Tee had cut Lee with a broken glass then.
So, when Ah Tee pointed the knife at him, Lee attacked him - punching and head-butting him and slamming his head against the floor. Ah Tee died three days later.
But yesterday, Justice Kan Ting Chiu said Lee's defence had no mitigating value. ZULKIFLI OTHMAN
