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SCMP Reporter

A former policeman was jailed for life yesterday after he stalked his ex-lover and then murdered her.

 The jury rejected John Tsui Chu-tin's defence that he lost control because he was suffering from a major depressive disorder at the time.

 Tsui, 28, who had a history of stalking his former girlfriends, had pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denied murder.

 Mr Justice Thomas Gall said Tsui was to continue psychiatric counselling in jail.

 Tsui stabbed bank teller Ruth Chan Yin-cheung, 22, near her Sha Tin home on the morning of July 18 last year after stalking her since their break-up in January.

 He had been due to stand trial for stalking her.

 The court heard Tsui had taken all his accumulated leave and repeatedly called in sick so he could stalk Chan.

 In summing up, Mr Justice Gall noted: 'It's quite clear he did feel the need to vent his anger in revenge.'  Psychiatrists who examined Tsui agreed he was suffering from a major depressive disorder.

 The experts differed as to whether the mental illness was the root of the killing, rendering Tsui unable to control himself.

 Mr Justice Gall asked the jury to consider whether Tsui's burst of anger was deepened by his illness.

 Tsui also told the psychiatrists he was so confused he did not know how he drew the knife to stab Chan - 'the most important person in my life'.

 'That inability to know how he took the knife you might think indicative of his inability to control himself,' Mr Justice Gall said.

 The jury had to decide whether Tsui's mental disorder had made him unable to control himself or whether, despite his illness, he could have stopped the killing.



Ex-policeman jailed for life over stalking murder