Psychotic Hong Kong ‘monster killer’ who chopped mother to death is jailed for 10 years
Court told how drug abuser leapt from burning Yuen Long flat shouting ‘Jesus loves me’
PUBLISHED : Thursday, 26 November, 2015, 4:45pm
UPDATED : Thursday, 26 November, 2015, 4:55pm
Julie Chu
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The Long Bin Interim Housing Estate in Yuen Long, where the manslaughter took place. Photo: Wikipedia
A heavy drug user who chopped his mother to death in the belief she was possessed by a monster was jailed for 10 years this morning.
Chu Ka-ho, 29, pleaded guilty in the High Court to one count of manslaughter. He killed Chan Kim-kam, 53, at the Long Bin Interim Housing Estate, Yuen Long, on March 16 last year.
Ms Justice Maggie Poon Man-kay told him: “Your vice habit has cost you the life of your mother and your freedom.”
Psychiatrists found that Chu’s mental state had stabilised while denied drugs but he would still be a danger to the public if he took them again. The judge found a deterrent sentence should be imposed as the killing was the result of “highly irresponsible conduct”.
Chu’s lawyer, David Boyton, said Chu had delusions that Kowloon had become a “city of monsters” and came to believe his mother was one.
Neighbours called police when they spotted smoke coming from their flat. Police officers arrived to see Chu jumping from the flat shouting “Jesus loves me”.
He broke his legs and was diagnosed with a drug-induced psychotic disorder.
Chu told the police he had quarrelled with his mother that night and killed her with a chopper accidentally.
The prosecution said the woman suffered serious chop wounds and her body was extensively burnt.
Boyton said Chu had taken drugs since he was 13 years old. Although he quit the habit and lived cleanly for six years, he said the shock of finding his mother had Aids – which was not, however, confirmed in medical reports – drove him to find relief in taking Ice.
