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Life imprisonment for 'brutal' man
by Teo Xuanwei
05:55 AM Jul 09, 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 - He has a long list of past convictions for violent offences, including armed robbery and voluntarily causing grievous hurt.
And Leow Kok Meng's latest "brutal and merciless" attacks had led to the death of one person and serious injuries to another, said High Court judge Kan Ting Chiu.
Agreeing with the prosecution's argument that Leow was an "unstable character" who is likely to re-offend and represents a serious danger to the public for an indeterminate time, Justice Kan yesterday sentenced the 49-year-old to life imprisonment for causing the death of Mr Karunagaran Jaganthan, 48, and for causing grievous hurt to Mr Balan Krishnan, 46.
Leow had attacked the pair on Aug 29, 2008, after a dispute he had with Mr Karunagaran at Mei Ling Street.
During the trial, Dr Todd Tomita, acting chief of the department of general and forensic psychiatry at the Institute of Mental Health, had testified that Leow suffered from anti-social personality disorder, a moderate level of psychopathy and alcohol dependence.
Although psychiatric treatment could help Leow gain better control over his impulse, it will not change his anti-social personality disorder - which is a major factor in Leow's propensity to resort to violence - Dr Tomita added.
Leow, who was represented by Ms Jennifer Lim, said through his lawyer that he was very remorseful and felt sorry for the victims' families. Teo Xuanwei
