Tan Lead Shake's wife found guilty of causing brother-in-law's death
By Claire Huang, 938LIVE | Posted: 17 April 2009 2109 hrs

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SINGAPORE: China-born wife of opposition party member Tan Lead Shake has been found guilty of causing the death of her brother-in-law.

Wu Yun Yun had initially faced the gallows for the murder of 33-year-old Tan Lead Sane last year.

But on Friday, the High Court reduced the charge to culpable homicide not amounting to murder due to the defence of diminished responsibility.

Psychiatric reports found that Wu suffers from major depressive disorder and this reduces the responsibility of her acts.

26-year-old Wu also pleaded guilty to grievously hurting the deceased's wife, Huang Mei Zhe.

The third charge of voluntarily causing hurt to her mother-in-law, Ng Bee Hion, was taken into consideration.

Tears flowed freely from Ms Huang's face as the court heard how she and her husband were attacked at their Paya Lebar home on 28 June, 2008.

Accompanied by her mother-in-law Madam Ng, the two women sat in the public gallery weeping silently.

Ms Huang, who has a prominent scar on her collar bone because of the attack, shook her head in disagreement at times to parts of the evidence presented in court.

A psychiatric report stated that Wu was clearly unhappy with the Tan family. The mother of two had told doctors she did not want to marry Mr Tan Lead Shake, but did so because arrangements were already made.

Subsequently, Wu could not adapt to life in Singapore and often felt that she was being mistreated by her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, whom she called "calculative".

She also revealed that she "hated to stay at home" and that she was jealous of Ms Huang as she thought her sister-in-law's life was smooth-sailing, while nothing went well for herself.

She stabbed Ms Huang twice before moving on to stab Mr Tan three times in the chest and abdomen.

Wu said her intention was to make her in-laws feel the pain of the loss of a loved one.

She added that she committed the act on a Saturday because her husband would be around to take care of the children after she had done the deed.

Wu fled the scene and wandered aimlessly for some time before she called her husband, who persuaded her to turn herself in.

She was arrested shortly after 1pm outside the National Library building at Victoria Street.

On Friday, looking pale and thin, Wu sat in the dock expressionless as she listened intently to the interpreter during the hearing.

Her husband was absent in court, but her father and another family member turned up to show their support.

Justice Kan Ting Chiu said he would sentence Wu in six months' time, allowing doctors to track her mental condition to see if she improves with the help of medication.

She faces life imprisonment, but her mental health will be taken into consideration during sentencing.


- CNA/so