Hong Kong man fighting for his life after alleged hammer attack on former mother-in-law, suicide attempt
- Man, 41, arrested on suspicion of attacking his ex-wife’s mother in the Kowloon flat where he used to live
- He is fighting for his life after police found him hanging in the kitchen; 59-year-old hammer attack victim is being treated for her head injuries
A Hongkonger was fighting for his life in hospital on Monday after allegedly attacking his former mother-in-law with a hammer and then attempting to hang himself.
The 41-year-old man – arrested on suspicion of wounding – was in a critical condition in United Christian Hospital’s intensive care unit. The woman, 59, was being treated for head injuries in Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Preliminary investigation showed a domestic dispute sparked the attack on the 13th floor flat of Lok Hei House, at Lok Wah South Estate, in Ngau Tau Kok at about 12.08am on Monday, according to police.
Case reclassified after evidence man might have killed chronically ill wife
The man was understood to have moved out after separating from his 33-year-old wife, but he still had a key to the flat.
The victim was heard yelling for help from the living room of the flat. The man’s ex-wife alerted police and paramedics.
Upon arriving, officers found the mother and daughter in the living room while the suspect was hanging in the kitchen.
The man was unconscious en route to United Christian Hospital in Kwun Tong.
His former mother-in-law was treated for head injuries at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Yau Ma Tei, where she was in a stable condition.
The case has been classified as “wounding” and “attempted suicide”. Detectives from the Sau Mau Ping criminal investigation unit are investigating.
In an unrelated incident, police arrested a man on suspicion of assaulting his girlfriend after finding him hidden under a bed in a Causeway Bay flat on Sunday night.
Officers were called in soon after 9.30pm on Sunday when a neighbour found bloodstains on the staircases of Lai Chi Building on Leighton Road.
The trail of blood led police to a sixth-floor flat where officers found an injured woman, 38, and her five-month-old son, who was unhurt.
The Mongolian woman holds a recognisance form – a temporary identification document issued by the Immigration Department that permits the holder to remain in the city.
A police source said the woman suffered injuries to her face, both arms and abdomen. The woman alleged she was injured in a dispute with her drunk boyfriend, the source added.
The woman was sent to Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai for treatment.
During a police search, officers found her boyfriend under the bed in the flat and arrested him. Police said the man suffered hand injuries and was taken to the same hospital for treatment. No identification documents were found on him.
Officers from the Wan Chai district crime squad are handling the case.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, or you know someone who is, help is available. For Hong Kong, dial +852 2896 0000 for The Samaritans or +852 2382 0000 for Suicide Prevention Services. In the US, call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on +1 800 273 8255. For a list of other nations’ helplines, see this page.
