Man jailed for stabbing girlfriend to death
By Ashley Chia | Posted: 22 August 2012 1850 hrs
SINGAPORE: A 26-year-old man who stabbed his girlfriend to death was sentenced to 20 years' jail by the Court of Appeal on Wednesday.
Pathip Selvan Sugumaran, who faced the death penalty in November 2010, had his sentence overturned and murder charge reduced to one of culpable homicide not amounting to murder last week after a successful appeal.
Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong, who read out the sentence, said Pathip, who is prone to violent outbursts when provoked, was someone who should be "put away for a long time" and was "in many ways, a danger to the public".
On July 7, 2008, Pathip stabbed Ms Jeevitha Panippan, who was then 18 years old, 15 times after she allegedly said his love rival was better in bed.
Pathip, who said he intended to use the knife to threaten Ms Jeevitha, fled the scene in a taxi and left her to die.
Culpable homicide carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment or a jail term up to 20 years.
- TODAY/cc
