'Killer son put blame on broken heart'
Psychiatrist says Ian Fok recently showed signs of turmoil over break-up with girlfriend but has shown no regret over violent death of his father
A murder suspect on trial for killing his father and trying to kill his mother came up with a fresh excuse this month for the attack: a break-up with his girlfriend just before his father died, a court heard yesterday.
Ian Lee Christoffer Fok Lap-yin, 20, displayed emotional distress about the split with his girlfriend but no regret for the death of his father or the injuries his mother suffered, prosecution witness and government psychiatrist Dr Kavin Chow Kit-wan said.
In 17 months of diagnostic sessions since the attack on March 16 last year, Chow said Fok had told her inconsistent stories - of multiple identities, various plans to take his parents' lives, and then, just ahead of the trial starting last week, he told her that splitting up with his girlfriend, coupled with looming examinations, had been difficult for him.
"He claimed he felt stressed after breaking up with his girlfriend a day before the incident, and [because of] the upcoming examinations," Chow told the Court of First Instance. "He wanted to get away from his family so that he could get freedom."
Ian Fok denies teaming up with his friend Chan Ming-tin, 20, to kill his father Fok Lai-chi, 50, and attempt to murder his mother, Irene Fok, 40, at their home in Pat Heung, Yuen Long. Ian Fok denies both charges, while Chan is pleading guilty to murder.
The court heard last week that Chow and another government doctor who examined Ian Fok concluded he did not have multiple-personality disorder.