The mother survived but the infant died in March this year.

Leung Sin-ting, 27, admits to manslaughter and intent to cause grievous bodily harm. After her arrest she told police she cut open the woman so she could "see what an unborn infant looked like."

Leung was due to be sentenced yesterday, but judge Darryl Saw said psychiatric reports from both the prosecution and the defense were inadequate. Although they diagnosed her mental illness, they did not specify its severity, the possibility of repeating the offense and how big a threat she could pose to society.

ADVERTISEMENT

The judge asked for more reports so he could give an appropriate sentence and treatment for Leung. He adjourned sentencing to November 25.

But Saw said there is no doubt Leung will be facing a custodial sentence or even life in prison.

Leung claimed to have been pregnant but had a miscarriage when she met the 26-year-old victim surnamed Lee on the internet. Lee was eight months' pregnant at the time.

On September 16, 2008, the women met in Fan Ling so Lee could pick up some baby items Leung had promised her. After they arrived at Leung's home, Leung complained of a stomach ache and Lee tried to comfort her.

When Lee was not looking, Leung used a cable to strangle her until she lost consciousness.

Leung then made a single vertical incision below Lee's navel with a fruit knife and opened up her abdomen.

When Leung's husband Chau Man-choi returned home, she hid Lee in a kitchen cabinet but ended up confessing to him.

The baby boy was delivered by an emergency cesarean section but suffered from brain damage due to lack of oxygen.

Police discovered Leung had been looking up information on how to perform a cesarean section, how to make someone fall unconscious and the procedure to get a birth certificate.