Jealous man admits stabbing to death neighbour he suspected of having affair with wife
A jealous husband stabbed a neighbour to death after becoming convinced he had been having an affair with his wife for 20 years, the Court of First Instance heard on Tuesday.
But as police later found out, Chung Siu-ping’s wife had never had sex with victim Lau Kei-king, 74, and Chung’s jealousy only came from his delusion, the court heard.
Chung, 66, pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter before Deputy Judge Michael Stuart-Moore. The judge adjourned sentencing to November 28 pending updated reports from two psychiatrists.
Prosecutor Andrew Bruce SC told the court Chung and Lau had lived in Tai Hing Estate, Tuen Mun, for over twenty years. Their flats were just across the corridor from each other.
On October 5, 2011, residents on the same floor heard noise from the corridor, and came out to see Chung using a knife to stab Lau.
Lau suffered 16 wounds on his head and neck, and some more cuts on his torso where the knife had penetrated into his chest, liver and intestines. He was taken to hospital but died upon arrival.
Chung was arrested by police on the same night, telling them: “The one surnamed Lau seduced my wife. That’s why I stabbed him.”
He claimed he had seen Lau with his wife and had heard Lau’s son asking why Lau followed Chung’s wife. He believed his wife and Lau had been having a sexual affair for some time. He confronted his wife with his suspicions and he claimed his wife admitted having sex with Lau on a few occasions.
Chung then bought a knife to kill Lau as he found the knives in his home were old and blunt. He stayed at home watching the security cameras of the building, laying in wait for Lau on the day of the murder.
But the court heard that Chung’s wife denied she had ever had sex with Lau. Lau’s son also claimed he never saw his father following or stalking with Chung’s wife.
Two psychiatrists found that Chung was suffering from a delusional jealousy disorder. They said his crime was based on “bizarre and unsubstantiated reasoning stemming from his delusion”.
