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SCMP Reporter

A psychiatrist describes the mental state of a policeman who killed his his ex-lover

A policeman who stalked his ex-girlfriend for months before knifing her to death was the 'most intrusive and dangerous' type of stalker, a government psychiatrist told a jury yesterday.

The Court of First Instance has heard John Tsui Chu-tin, 32, carried out the attack while on bail awaiting trial for stalking Ruth Chan Yin-cheung, 22. He repeatedly stabbed her outside her Sha Tin flat on July 18, 1998, five days before his trial was due to start.

He has pleaded not guilty to murder. His offer to plead guilty to manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility was rejected by the prosecution.

Henry Yuen Cheung-hang, a psychiatrist at Castle Peak Hospital and Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre, testified for the prosecution yesterday.

Dr Yuen told the jury that Tsui belonged to the 'rejected type of stalkers', which was 'the most intrusive and dangerous' type.

'The deceased was a victim of stalking and the rejected type of stalkers are dangerous because there is a high risk that they will assault their targets in revenge for being rejected,' he said.

In one Australian study, more than 70 per cent of such stalkers issued threats, while about 60 per cent resorted to violence against their targets.

'The assaults are usually motivated by jealousy and rage at rejection,' Dr Yuen said. He said Tsui suffered from a major depressive disorder after Chan broke off their relationship in January 1998.

'The depression was precipitated by his being rejected by his ex-lover. The rejection also caused anger, jealousy and stalking,' he said.

Tsui had stalked two other girlfriends after they broke up with him and had stalked Chan for months before the killing.

When questioned by prosecutor Arthur Luk Yee-shun SC, Dr Yuen said he believed the lesser plea of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility should not be accepted because there was no 'substantial impairment' in Tsui's ability to control himself and make rational judgments.

Dr Yuen said Tsui's refusal  to tackle his problems might influence his future behaviour  and there was a high risk of his stalking again.

Chan died after suffering 36 stab and slash wounds, most of which were concentrated around her neck and chest.

A psychiatrist called by the defence, Andrew Johns, has chronicled Tsui's stalking campaign, which included moving into Chan's apartment block and calling her up to 30 times a day at work.

Dr Johns said Tsui had told him he brought a knife intending to commit suicide in front of his victim so she would never be able to forget him. He said  he became angry, insulted and disappointed when Chan told him to die and said he was not the father of the baby she had aborted.

The trial continues before Mr Justice Louis Tong Po-sun on Monday.



'Rejected stalker was prone to revenge'