An 80-year-old-man was arrested on suspicion of murder this morning after he killed his disabled, chronically ill 76-year-old wife apparently out of “fear that no one would look after her” if he died.
The suspect, surnamed Wong, called the police at 9am today, asking them to come to the Shau Kei Wan flat he and his wife, surnamed Lam, had shared for 20 years. Chief Inspector of Police Lam Yiu, from the Eastern District’s regional crime unit, said responding police found Wong’s wife, surnamed Lam, unconscious on their marital bed with bruises on her neck. She was certified dead on the scene.
Preliminary investigation suggested the 76-year-old had already been dead for hours when police arrived.
A police source told SCMP that Wong confessed to killing Lam because he worried that nobody would be able to look after her if he passed away or fell ill. The suspected murder weapon, a foot-long bamboo rod, was seized at the scene.
Speaking to reporters, a resident of Yiu Tung Estate, where Wong and Lam lived, said they were a “loving” couple. Their son died in 2007 of an undisclosed reason. Lam, who suffered from a chronic illness, developed mobility issues after having a stroke several years ago. Wong, who was her sole caregiver, was described by a neighbor as a “good husband”.
Police were not able to confirm whether Wong had a history of mental illness or domestic abuse. The 80-year-old is in police custody.
