http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_369562.html
Wife slasher's jail time cut
He is also spared the cane; CJ says attack was due to provocation
By Selina Lum
Russell Tan Rui Leen, 40, had described his wife as an abusive woman who kept taunting him until he went berserk. -- ST FILE PHOTO
FORMER investment analyst Russell Tan Rui Leen got his jail term for repeatedly slashing and stabbing his wife reduced from four years to three on Monday and was spared the cane as well.
Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong accepted that Tan's frenzied attack on his wife of six years in 2007 had taken place against a backdrop of marital conflict and verbal abuse on her part.
Before the attack, Tan, 40, had been on the receiving end of derogatory remarks about him in front of the couple's two young children. His wife, Ms Jann Goh Hwee Suan, 35, had also made numerous police reports - which he felt were false - against him, alleging that he sexually assaulted the maid.
All these put Tan under severe stress, said the CJ, and on Sept 30, 2007, when Ms Goh provoked him in front of their then five-year-old son, who has suicidal tendencies, he lost his self-control.
CJ Chan said it was pointless to impose a deterrent sentence of a long jail term and caning when an offence is committed as a result of a loss of self-control brought about by provocation.
Three years' jail was enough to reflect the gravity of Ms Goh's injuries, he said.
On the day of the incident, Tan grabbed a knife in the kitchen to stab and slash her. When it became bent, he picked up a bigger knife and continued his attack. A neighbour came by to check out the commotion but scurried away to call the police when Tan turned around with the knife in hand.
Ms Goh spent 18 days in hospital and now has 80 scars on her body.
In September last year, Tan pleaded guilty to causing grievous hurt to his wife with a dangerous weapon. He was jailed four years and ordered to be caned eight times, but appealed against the sentence. Representing himself at the appeal hearing last month, Tan painted his wife out to be an abusive woman who persistently taunted him until he went berserk.
On Monday, CJ Chan noted that Tan's detailed account of quarrels and spousal abuse was not denied by the prosecution. Tan also produced documents to support his account.
Read the full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.
Wife slasher's jail time cut
He is also spared the cane; CJ says attack was due to provocation
By Selina Lum
Russell Tan Rui Leen, 40, had described his wife as an abusive woman who kept taunting him until he went berserk. -- ST FILE PHOTO
FORMER investment analyst Russell Tan Rui Leen got his jail term for repeatedly slashing and stabbing his wife reduced from four years to three on Monday and was spared the cane as well.
Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong accepted that Tan's frenzied attack on his wife of six years in 2007 had taken place against a backdrop of marital conflict and verbal abuse on her part.
Before the attack, Tan, 40, had been on the receiving end of derogatory remarks about him in front of the couple's two young children. His wife, Ms Jann Goh Hwee Suan, 35, had also made numerous police reports - which he felt were false - against him, alleging that he sexually assaulted the maid.
All these put Tan under severe stress, said the CJ, and on Sept 30, 2007, when Ms Goh provoked him in front of their then five-year-old son, who has suicidal tendencies, he lost his self-control.
CJ Chan said it was pointless to impose a deterrent sentence of a long jail term and caning when an offence is committed as a result of a loss of self-control brought about by provocation.
Three years' jail was enough to reflect the gravity of Ms Goh's injuries, he said.
On the day of the incident, Tan grabbed a knife in the kitchen to stab and slash her. When it became bent, he picked up a bigger knife and continued his attack. A neighbour came by to check out the commotion but scurried away to call the police when Tan turned around with the knife in hand.
Ms Goh spent 18 days in hospital and now has 80 scars on her body.
In September last year, Tan pleaded guilty to causing grievous hurt to his wife with a dangerous weapon. He was jailed four years and ordered to be caned eight times, but appealed against the sentence. Representing himself at the appeal hearing last month, Tan painted his wife out to be an abusive woman who persistently taunted him until he went berserk.
On Monday, CJ Chan noted that Tan's detailed account of quarrels and spousal abuse was not denied by the prosecution. Tan also produced documents to support his account.
Read the full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.
