Deputy High Court Judge Peter Line yesterday described as scandalous the lack of preparation that had gone into the sentencing submissions put on behalf of the woman who ordered the chopping of Shum Ho-yin.
The judge issued a sharp criticism of counsel David Ma Wai-kwan and the rest of Hung Man-yee's legal team after it was disclosed that no psychiatric or psychological reports had been sought to back up the contention that she was suffering from post-natal depression at the time she ordered the attacks on her stepson.
In fact, it was only when prompted by Mr Justice Line as he was about to pronounce sentences that Mr Ma finally acknowledged post-natal depression was a line of mitigation that he was seeking to argue.
Mr Justice Line said he had no choice but to adjourn Hung's sentencing for a fortnight while reports on her mental state at the time of the attack could be prepared.
'I will not have her case prejudiced by the failure of her lawyers to do anything,' the judge said. He told Hung it seemed her legal team had done little to assist her since she pleaded guilty to wounding eight months ago.
