Man released on probation for crime of passion

A 59-year-old electrician suffering from anxiety and depression was given a lenient sentence of 12-month probation at the High Court on Wednesday, after strangling his girlfriend to death two years ago.

Lam Kwok-wing, who had been detained for three years, pleaded guilty to manslaughter on September 20. High Court Judge Susana D’Almada Remedios showed sympathy to Lam, saying he didn't plot his act and committed it involuntarily due to severe mental disturbance.

Quoting a letter submitted by Lam’s family, Remedios said Lam was a filial, caring and decent person without previous records of violence.

“But since committing to more jobs and shouldering family burdens in 2019, Lam’s mental health had worsened gradually -- during which had lost 10 pounds within a month or two... This is the blight of depression,” she said.

Lam had sought treatment before the incident, but he killed his girlfriend out of rage after she called him a “lunatic.”

Remedios added that Lam’s psychiatric report said his mental health condition had improved to stable from serious.

“The report doesn’t recommend Lam to be admitted to hospital but to receive regular treatments at outpatient clinics,” she said.

Referring to Lam’s probation report, Remedios said Lam was deeply remorseful for his actions and hoped to apologize to his family.

“Lam lived with his son and his daughter-in-law -- who can take care of Lam -- before the incident,” she said.

She handed down a sentence of 12-month probation after taking into account Lam’s plea, remorse and improving mental health.

The court heard that in May, 2019, Lam began to develop mental health issues. A month later, his emotions became unstable following heart surgery. He proceeded to seek treatment at Tuen Mun Hospital, where he was diagnosed with mixed anxiety and depressive disorder.

From August 3 to 22 of the same year, Lam was hospitalized at Castle Peak Hospital, after which he was allowed to go home but required regular consultations at the hospital.

On September 9, he visited his then 42-year-old girlfriend Chiang Siu-ying’s Tuen Mun unit, when arguments between the two flared up.

Chiang called Lam a “lunatic,” before Lam sealed her eyes, nose and mouth with tape and strangled her to death from behind with bare hands.

The next morning, Lam’s family found Lam murmuring nonsense, before they visited Chiang’s unit and found the deceased Chiang on her bed.

In mitigation, the defense said probation would be the most suitable sentence for Lam, as his mental health condition had improved.