VICTIM'S DESPAIRING WIDOWER ANGRY AT 'LENIENT' 12-YEAR SENTENCE

The dumpling shop owner who narrowly escaped death was yesterday furious that his wife's killer had been spared a life sentence.

'How can somebody just kill someone else and say it was mental illness?' Mak Ming-kong said. 'I don't understand how Hong Kong can tolerate such violence. How can someone claim he has suffered mental illness and get such a lenient sentence?' Mr Mak's dumpling shop has since folded and he is unemployed. He and his two sons, aged 11 and 12, still receive counselling.

'I have no plans,' he said. 'I used to have a business, a wife, two sons and a happy home life. Now my wife is gone and my business is gone, and I'm unemployed. I have no future and I'm left with the burden of looking after two sons alone.' Mr Mak was also stabbed several times and spent 24 days in intensive care after his wife's killer turned on him.

The 42-year-old father said he was angry that murder charges had been dropped.

He wanted to know why the family had not been consulted about Sun facing manslaughter charges instead.