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Man killed 61-year-old transvestite 'who mothered him'
01 Jul 2010
Source: The Straits Times
A 28-YEAR-OLD man who killed the 61-year-old transvestite who took him in and supported him financially was jailed for seven years yesterday.
He was also ordered to be caned eight strokes - the first person to be caned for manslaughter without intention to cause death after the Penal Code was amended in 2008 to include caning as a sentencing option.
In sentencing Astro Jakaria, Justice Chan Seng Onn chided the Sabahan for not caring about the condition of his benefactor, Mr Abdul Khalid Othman.
Astro had tied a long-sleeved T-shirt around Mr Abdul Khalid's neck during a scuffle in the older man's Ang Mo Kio flat two years ago, strangling him to death.
The scuffle arose after the transvestite had performed oral sex on Astro and then asked to have sex with him.
Yesterday, Justice Chan said: 'You... caused the death of a person who had mothered you, showed much care and concern for you, who had taken very good care of you in many aspects and provided you with financial assistance.'
Astro, who stole the older man's jewellery before leaving the flat, was initially charged with murder.
He escaped the gallows in April after Justice Chan found him guilty of the lesser charge.
The judge said then that the prosecution had failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Astro intended to kill Mr Abdul Khalid by tying the T-shirt around his neck.
Astro came to Singapore in 2007 to work as a cleaner and met Mr Abdul Khalid, who was also a cleaner.
He lived with the older man without paying rent and regarded him as his mother.
Mr Abdul Khalid, who wore women's clothes, cooked for him, bought him clothes and gave him money.
Yesterday, Astro's lawyer, Mr Shashi Nathan, said his client was overcome with guilt, anger and disgust after performing the sex acts and became outraged when the older man asked for more.
But Deputy Public Prosecutor Ng Cheng Thiam said Astro had overreacted.
He could have just left after Mr Abdul Khalid made sexual overtures.
Astro could have been jailed for up to 10 years and fined.
