Son killed parents after father nagged him, court is told

A man beat his elderly parents to death with a hammer because of his father's continual criticism, a court heard yesterday.

Ma Siu-chiu, 21, denied two murder charges in the Court of First Instance. Barrister Frederic Whitehouse, defending, told the jury that Ma had offered to plead guilty to manslaughter but the prosecution had refused.

Ma's oldest brother, Ma Siu-chun, 32, told the court their father had meant well despite his criticism.

'Father asked him [Siu-chiu] to contribute to the family. He wanted him to reflect on himself and to find a job,' Mr Ma said.

Asked by Mr Whitehouse if he had forgiven his brother, Mr Ma burst into tears. 'I thought about it at first, but it turned out to be impossible,' he said.

Ma Siu-chiu then also started weeping.

Mr Ma said his brother was very introverted and did not talk much: 'Even if father scolded him severely he never talked back. So how could we communicate with him?'