Mother sentenced to hospital order after tragic death of infant daughter

A 27-year-old mother was sentenced to a 12-month hospital order at the High Court on Friday after admitting to the manslaughter of her one-year-old daughter, a tragedy that unfolded amid severe financial strain and mental health struggles.

The court heard previously that the defendant, Liu Ka-ki, was caring for her daughter, Lo Yuet-ning, in a subdivided flat in North Point in April 2022 when the incident occurred. The situation came to light after the child's grandparents visited the residence and found no one answering the door.

In sentencing, Judge Wilson Chan Ka-shun cited two psychiatric reports which concluded that the defendant was suffering from an adjustment disorder at the time of the offense.

The condition led to severe depression and a diminished capacity for rational judgment, resulting in suicidal ideation that extended to her daughter. The judge described the case as profoundly unfortunate.

Background information presented to the court revealed that the defendant's husband was the family's sole breadwinner, working as a part-time cleaner during the pandemic.

The family faced significant financial difficulties, exacerbated by the husband's previous neglect of familial duties.

The defendant had been harassed by debt collectors, even after changing her phone number, which ultimately led her to move with her child into the subdivided flat.

The psychiatric reports indicated that the defendant's interpersonal skills have improved since being remanded in custody, but she requires further treatment and training to facilitate her reintegration into society.

The doctors recommended a hospital order to ensure she receives structured, multidisciplinary care and to mitigate the risk of self-harm.

Chan accepted the medical recommendations, sentencing the defendant to a 12-month hospital order at the Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre.

The court was told earlier that during the investigation, police found notes on the defendant's phone expressing a desire to leave this world with her daughter. A post-mortem examination concluded that the infant died from asphyxiation.