Hong Kong woman, 71, charged with murder after dementia-suffering husband, 84, found dead in bed
- Couple were discovered unconscious when helper went into man’s bedroom to help him change a diaper
- Woman is in a serious condition in hospital after attempting to take her own life
A 71-year-old Hong Kong woman has been charged with the murder of her 84-year-old husband in their luxury Kowloon Tong home, police have said.
The woman, who had attempted to take her own life and remained in a serious condition in hospital, was arrested in connection with his death on Wednesday.
The case would be mentioned in Kowloon City Court on Saturday, police said on Thursday.
The case unfolded at about 4.20am on Wednesday when emergency personnel responded to a report from one of the couple’s two domestic helpers at their home on Beacon Hill Road in Kowloon Tong.
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The couple were discovered unconscious when the helper went into the man’s bedroom to help him change a diaper.
The helper found him lying in bed with his mouth and nose covered by tape. The wife was found on the floor near the bed, with a bloodstained knife nearby.
The man, who suffered from dementia and muscle atrophy, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The wife sustained cut wounds to her neck and hand and was rushed to Caritas Medical Centre in Cheung Sha Wan. She was later transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital in Lai Chi Kok.
She was originally listed as being critically ill but her condition had improved by Thursday night.
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Asked about the tragedy, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han expressed deep concern and sadness about the situation.
He said authorities had taken several measures to address such issues, including the establishment of a 24-hour support helpline (182 183) for carers.
Since its launch, the helpline had received more than 14,000 calls, he said. Sun added that resources and other relevant support channels were available for people in need.
If you have suicidal thoughts, or you know someone who is, help is available. For Hong Kong, dial +852 18111 for the government-run “Mental Health Support Hotline” or +852 2896 0000 for The Samaritans and +852 2382 0000 for Suicide Prevention Services. In the US, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
