Life in jail for prof

Former University of Hong Kong academic Cheung Kie-chung has been sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering his wife, with a High Court judge saying the killing was a tragedy for everyone involved.

Cheung, 56, was found guilty of murdering Tina Chan Wai-man, 53, in a majority verdict by a jury of four men and three women last week.

He had pleaded not guilty to murder but admitted manslaughter, which was rejected by the prosecution. The associate professor of mechanical engineering strangled his wife with two cables after being kicked out of bed at the university's Wei Lun Hall on August 17, 2018.

Justice Anthea Pang Po-kam said although Cheung was a "gentle and caring" person he "cold-bloodedly killed" his wife of more than 30 years. And Cheung alone knew whether or not he killed her for money.

Pang said mitigation letters from 352 people - including his relatives, friends, students and former colleagues - showed he was regarded as a selfless and well-respected person. But murder was the gravest offense and life imprisonment was the only appropriate sentence.

Pang also noted Cheung hid Chan's body in a suitcase and a "wooden coffin" before reporting her missing to police.

That behavior gave false hope and distress to those desperate to find Chan.

On that, Cheung was imprisoned for 28 months for preventing his wife's lawful burial. He pleaded guilty to that charge.

In mitigation, defense counsel Graham Harris said it was the saddest case he had encountered in 40 years as a barrister.

Cheung was suffering from depression when he committed the crime, Harris said, noting that psychiatrists who testified suggested he was a victim of psychological abuse by his wife. The mitigation letters also showed Cheung is not a cruel or violent person but generous and helpful, he said.

Harris said he understood convicts facing life terms usually have sentences reviewed after 10 years in prison.

Harris suggested that the court could at some time consider making a report to the chief executive to address factors in the case in favor of Cheung when there is a review.

Cheung, who shaved his head before appearing in court yesterday, looked calm upon hearing his sentence and looked at his friends in court from time to time.

Cheung's friend Chan Leung-choi, an architect who has known him for more than 50 years, showed up for the sentencing. But Cheung's son and daughter were not seen.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com