Hong Kong father admits trying to kill his three children and himself with charcoal
Cheung Chu-kong, who claimed he was burdened by debt, told his daughter the burning was for a religious ritual
A Hong Kong father who tried to commit suicide and kill his three children by burning charcoal in their bedroom as they slept told one of them that it was a religious ritual, a court heard on Monday.
Cheung Chu-kong’s claim even fooled his domestic helper, Dewi Setyowati, even though she walked right into the room where the potentially lethal substance was ignited and smelled the smoke.
The three children, all six years old or younger at the time, survived the attack. On Monday, Cheung, 36, pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted murder at the High Court.
Madam Justice Maggie Poon Man-kay sought various reports on Cheung’s mental state and background, as well as the impact the incident had on the older daughter, who was six at the time.
She adjourned sentencing to October 26.
She set aside some time for the daughter, who was in court on Monday, to chat with the father, who had been remanded in custody since last year, and would remain in custody.