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Cancer-stricken man pours 16 litres of petrol, threatens to die with wife in prison for 10 months and a week
The defendant, Zhang Yuefu (51 years old, transliteration), faced five charges, including criminal intimidation and theft. He pleaded guilty to three of them on Tuesday (August 5). The judge took the remaining charges into consideration and sentenced him to 10 months and one week in prison. (File photo)
Suffering from cancer and with his wife wanting a divorce, the middle-aged man attempted suicide several times. In one upset incident, he bought 16 liters of gasoline, poured it all over himself and the floor, and threatened to take his wife with him to die.
The defendant Zhang Yuefu (51 years old, transliteration) faced five charges including criminal intimidation and theft. He pleaded guilty to three of them on Tuesday (August 5). After taking the remaining charges into consideration, the judge sentenced him to 10 months and one week in prison.
According to the case, the defendant was diagnosed with cancer in 2024, and his 47-year-old wife planned to divorce him. Under these double blows, he attempted suicide multiple times. He was diagnosed with alcohol use disorder and had a history of psychosis caused by drugs such as benzodiazepines and methamphetamine. These drugs may have exacerbated his jealous delusions about his wife.
The defendant was already taking antipsychotic medication at the time of the incident and had not been admitted to the Institute of Mental Health because his wife agreed to monitor his condition at home. Doctors recommended that he seek treatment with an addiction psychiatrist to address his alcohol and drug use issues and to monitor his jealousy. However, the defendant failed to attend follow-up appointments with the specialist.
On the evening of May 14, 2025, the defendant, upset and recalling an argument with his wife three days prior, went to a nearby gas station and bought three jerrycans, filling them with approximately 16 liters of gasoline. After returning home with the gasoline, the defendant went straight to the kitchen and carried the LPG canister to the door. He then poured the gasoline on himself and the remaining gasoline on the floor.
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/singapore/story20250603-6551870The wife, who was sitting in the living room at the time, quickly called out her 21-year-old son from the bathroom, while the maid, who was in the kitchen, rushed out to seek help. A female neighbor came to check on the situation and then rushed home to call the police.
Meanwhile, the son emerged from the bathroom and said he was going to call the police. The defendant, upon hearing this, pulled a lighter from his pocket and warned his son that he would set the house on fire if he did. The son tried to comfort the defendant, and he eventually threw the lighter at him. However, the defendant threw his gasoline-soaked clothes at his wife, telling her, "We can die together."
At this time, the neighbor walked into the house to comfort the defendant and waited for the police to arrive.
Furthermore, during that time, the defendant's wife worked at a barbershop. On December 5, 2024, the defendant took the barbershop key from his wife's home and stole 200 yuan in the middle of the night. After his wife discovered the incident, she confronted the defendant and reported it to the police. The defendant's brother later helped him make compensation.
The defendant also stole a bird, birdcage and other items placed in the corridor of a household on February 19, 2025. When the police came to his house, he said that he did so to anger his family, and then returned the bird to the owner.
When the defendant pleaded for leniency, he said that he was undergoing cancer treatment alone and felt frustrated because no one cared about him, which led him to make stupid mistakes. He begged the judge to give him a light sentence.
Cancer-stricken man pours 16 litres of petrol, threatens to die with wife in prison for 10 months and a week
The defendant, Zhang Yuefu (51 years old, transliteration), faced five charges, including criminal intimidation and theft. He pleaded guilty to three of them on Tuesday (August 5). The judge took the remaining charges into consideration and sentenced him to 10 months and one week in prison. (File photo)
Suffering from cancer and with his wife wanting a divorce, the middle-aged man attempted suicide several times. In one upset incident, he bought 16 liters of gasoline, poured it all over himself and the floor, and threatened to take his wife with him to die.The defendant Zhang Yuefu (51 years old, transliteration) faced five charges including criminal intimidation and theft. He pleaded guilty to three of them on Tuesday (August 5). After taking the remaining charges into consideration, the judge sentenced him to 10 months and one week in prison.
According to the case, the defendant was diagnosed with cancer in 2024, and his 47-year-old wife planned to divorce him. Under these double blows, he attempted suicide multiple times. He was diagnosed with alcohol use disorder and had a history of psychosis caused by drugs such as benzodiazepines and methamphetamine. These drugs may have exacerbated his jealous delusions about his wife.
The defendant was already taking antipsychotic medication at the time of the incident and had not been admitted to the Institute of Mental Health because his wife agreed to monitor his condition at home. Doctors recommended that he seek treatment with an addiction psychiatrist to address his alcohol and drug use issues and to monitor his jealousy. However, the defendant failed to attend follow-up appointments with the specialist.
On the evening of May 14, 2025, the defendant, upset and recalling an argument with his wife three days prior, went to a nearby gas station and bought three jerrycans, filling them with approximately 16 liters of gasoline. After returning home with the gasoline, the defendant went straight to the kitchen and carried the LPG canister to the door. He then poured the gasoline on himself and the remaining gasoline on the floor.
The wife, who was sitting in the living room at the time, quickly called out her 21-year-old son from the bathroom, while the maid, who was in the kitchen, rushed out to seek help. A female neighbor came to check on the situation and then rushed home to call the police.
Meanwhile, the son emerged from the bathroom and said he was going to call the police. The defendant, upon hearing this, pulled a lighter from his pocket and warned his son that he would set the house on fire if he did. The son tried to comfort the defendant, and he eventually threw the lighter at him. However, the defendant threw his gasoline-soaked clothes at his wife, telling her, "We can die together."At this time, the neighbor walked into the house to comfort the defendant and waited for the police to arrive.
Furthermore, during that time, the defendant's wife worked at a barbershop. On December 5, 2024, the defendant took the barbershop key from his wife's home and stole 200 yuan in the middle of the night. After his wife discovered the incident, she confronted the defendant and reported it to the police. The defendant's brother later helped him make compensation.
The defendant also stole a bird, birdcage and other items placed in the corridor of a household on February 19, 2025. When the police came to his house, he said that he did so to anger his family, and then returned the bird to the owner.
When the defendant pleaded for leniency, he said that he was undergoing cancer treatment alone and felt frustrated because no one cared about him, which led him to make stupid mistakes. He begged the judge to give him a light sentence.
