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Aug 1, 2008
Schizophrenic jailed 8 years for killing uncle
By Khushwant Singh
While Heng has shown initial progress, Dr Tan cautioned that studies have revealed that up to 80 per cent of patients could experience relapses within the following five years. -- PHOTO: CRO
A PSYCHIATRIST, who testified that Heng Boon Chai's paranoid schizophrenia was improving probably saved the 30-year-old from a longer jail term or even life imprisonment.
Heng, 30, was jailed for eight years' jail on Friday for stabbing his uncle, Mr Heng Kim Teck, 55, to death on Sept 4 last year.
Heng, who was suffering from paranoid delusions, believed that his uncle had caused the deaths of his elder brother and grandfather.
But Heng's brother, who was also schizophrenic, had committed suicide in 1998, while his grandfather died of natural causes in 2000.
Dr Tan Lay Ling, consultant psychiatrist from the Institute of Mental Health, told the High Court that Heng started treatment last October and during a review on June 26, she found no evidence of thought disorder.
About this case
HENG Boon Chai's schizophrenia was diagnosed too late. By then he had stabbed his uncle to death.
After the attack on Sept 4 last year, the 30-year-old was charged with attempted murder.
When Mr Heng Kim Teck, 55, died four days later in hospital, the charged was reclassified as murder.
The murder charge was then reduced to culpable homicide as he was diagnosed to be suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, which reduced his responsibility for the killing.
On Friday, after hearing from psychiatrist Tan Lay Ling that Heng was showing signs of recovery, Justice Woo Bih Li sentenced him to eight years jail.
The jobless man could be jailed for 10 years or for life.
'He had no further delusional thinking or hallucinatory experiences', said Dr Tan.
While Heng has shown initial progress, Dr Tan cautioned that studies have revealed that up to 80 per cent of patients could experience relapses within the following five years.
She said that Mr Heng should be kept in an environment that allows close monitoring of psychotic symptoms.
She suggested the Changi Prison Medical Complex as appropriate for such supervision.
Even with treatment, she pointed out that only 10 to 15 per cent of patients become free of delusions and hallucinations, while the majority will suffer remissions, and another 10 to 15 per cent will remain 'chronically severely psychotic'.
She, however, agreed with Heng's lawyer Subhas Anandan that Heng had shown 'marked improvement' and would continue to make progress.
Dr Tan's testimony prompted Deputy Public Prosecutor Peter Koy to tell Justice Woo Bih Li that the prosecution would not press for a life sentence but for a 10-year jail term.
With the eight-year jail term, Heng will be freed in five years and four months after remission for good behavior.
The sentence was also backdated to the day of his remand on Sept 5 last year.
Heng, who looked listless, showed no expression when sentence was passed. But his parents and 15 other family members in the public gallery showed signs of relief.
Through Mr Anandan, the parents said that they would miss Heng as the family is very closely-knit.
Schizophrenic jailed 8 years for killing uncle
By Khushwant Singh
While Heng has shown initial progress, Dr Tan cautioned that studies have revealed that up to 80 per cent of patients could experience relapses within the following five years. -- PHOTO: CRO
A PSYCHIATRIST, who testified that Heng Boon Chai's paranoid schizophrenia was improving probably saved the 30-year-old from a longer jail term or even life imprisonment.
Heng, 30, was jailed for eight years' jail on Friday for stabbing his uncle, Mr Heng Kim Teck, 55, to death on Sept 4 last year.
Heng, who was suffering from paranoid delusions, believed that his uncle had caused the deaths of his elder brother and grandfather.
But Heng's brother, who was also schizophrenic, had committed suicide in 1998, while his grandfather died of natural causes in 2000.
Dr Tan Lay Ling, consultant psychiatrist from the Institute of Mental Health, told the High Court that Heng started treatment last October and during a review on June 26, she found no evidence of thought disorder.
About this case
HENG Boon Chai's schizophrenia was diagnosed too late. By then he had stabbed his uncle to death.
After the attack on Sept 4 last year, the 30-year-old was charged with attempted murder.
When Mr Heng Kim Teck, 55, died four days later in hospital, the charged was reclassified as murder.
The murder charge was then reduced to culpable homicide as he was diagnosed to be suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, which reduced his responsibility for the killing.
On Friday, after hearing from psychiatrist Tan Lay Ling that Heng was showing signs of recovery, Justice Woo Bih Li sentenced him to eight years jail.
The jobless man could be jailed for 10 years or for life.
'He had no further delusional thinking or hallucinatory experiences', said Dr Tan.
While Heng has shown initial progress, Dr Tan cautioned that studies have revealed that up to 80 per cent of patients could experience relapses within the following five years.
She said that Mr Heng should be kept in an environment that allows close monitoring of psychotic symptoms.
She suggested the Changi Prison Medical Complex as appropriate for such supervision.
Even with treatment, she pointed out that only 10 to 15 per cent of patients become free of delusions and hallucinations, while the majority will suffer remissions, and another 10 to 15 per cent will remain 'chronically severely psychotic'.
She, however, agreed with Heng's lawyer Subhas Anandan that Heng had shown 'marked improvement' and would continue to make progress.
Dr Tan's testimony prompted Deputy Public Prosecutor Peter Koy to tell Justice Woo Bih Li that the prosecution would not press for a life sentence but for a 10-year jail term.
With the eight-year jail term, Heng will be freed in five years and four months after remission for good behavior.
The sentence was also backdated to the day of his remand on Sept 5 last year.
Heng, who looked listless, showed no expression when sentence was passed. But his parents and 15 other family members in the public gallery showed signs of relief.
Through Mr Anandan, the parents said that they would miss Heng as the family is very closely-knit.