85-year-old Pak Kian Huat hacked his long-time partner to death following a dispute over room arrangements.
He was unrepresented in court after his lawyer had discharged himself from the case, and reportedly disrupted court proceedings into his case on 23 September yesterday, according to The Straits Times.
He was originally charged with murder but it has since been reduced to culpable homicide, for the killing of 79-year-old Lim Soi Moy in their flat at Block 191 Toa Payoh Lorong 4, back in 1 September 2019.
Rather die than go to jail of over 5 years
Pak was supposed to plead guilty to his amended charge but then told his lawyer that he wanted the death sentence.
Pak was then asked by the court for clarification, and he explained that the sentence of 7 years that his lawyer was seeking was too long, and wanted a jail term of up to 5 years instead – while the prosecution was seeking imprisonment of 15 to 18 years.
As he was “negotiating” his sentence in court, he was told by the judge that he is not in a coffee shop.
“You are not in a coffee shop — you are not in any other place but a courtroom. You will behave with proper decorum… Listen to the interpreter and tell her what you disagree with. Do you understand? You are in a courtroom and you will respect the court.” said the judge
The offence of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304(a) of the Penal Code is punishable with imprisonment for life and shall be liable to caning, or imprisonment for up to 20 years and shall be liable to a fine or caning.