SINGAPORE — A 57-year-old woman accused of killing her husband in their Ang Mo Kio flat in 2019 failed to enter her plea on Friday (Sept 30), after the High Court heard that she was still "of unsound mind" and thus unable to legally defend herself.
Because of this, court proceedings had to be put on hold for the time being until she recovers.
Wang Shuzhen, who hails from China, was originally charged with the murder of Teh Hock Pine, a 63-year-old Singaporean, in a third-storey unit at Block 633 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6.
She now faces a reduced charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Court documents stated that she caused Teh's death by striking his head at least four times with a 2.6kg glass ball.
This allegedly took place in the wee hours of Oct 27 around 5.45am.
While few details on Wang's psychiatric condition were given in open court on Friday, her pro bono lawyer Sadhana Rai, who was assigned to the case under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme, said that Wang has a “delusional belief” that Ms Rai’s colleagues “are involved in some way or another with her husband”.
NOT FIT TO TAKE THE PLEA
High Court judge Dedar Singh Gill referenced a medical report from the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) dated Wednesday, where a psychiatrist certified that Wang is of unsound mind and not fit to take the plea.
The judge then ordered a stay of the proceedings under Section 249 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Because Wang’s alleged offence is not a bailable one, Justice Gill ordered for her case to be reported to the Law Minister, who can order an accused person to be confined in a psychiatric institution or any other suitable place of safe custody.
Pending the Minister’s order, Justice Gill ordered Wang to be detained at Changi Prison Complex.
More at https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/woman-killed-husband-unsound-detained-2007381
