A woman whose attempt to kill herself and her two children resulted in the death of her seven-year-old son was yesterday spared jail and ordered to receive psychiatric treatment for six months.
Li Lai-fong, 26, betrayed no emotion as Mr Justice Thomas Gall sentenced her for the manslaughter of Chi-hin and the attempted murder of her five-year-old daughter, Tsz-ki. She pleaded guilty in the Court of First Instance to both offences.
Li had earlier this month denied murdering the boy but admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
Following the recommendation of three psychiatrists, Mr Justice Gall ordered Li be admitted to the Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre in the New Territories.
He accepted the findings that Li was suffering from 'a depressive illness with psychotic symptoms' when she tried to die with her children over a failed love affair on June 13 last year.
She fed Chi-hin and Tsz-ki sleeping pills, told them she was going to kill herself, then tried to gas them along with herself at their home in Primeview Garden, Tuen Mun.