10/07/2023

Spate of Recent Uxoricide

Update 26 Oct 2023: Managing director jailed for killing pregnant wife after inaccurate company report showed poor numbers

A managing director of a training company, who suffered from insomnia after mistakenly thinking his business was failing, stabbed his wife and their unborn child to death.

David Brian Chow Kwok-Hun began ruminating on the financial health of his company after receiving a half-year financial report from an accounting employee that showed poor numbers. The numbers were later found to be inaccurate. Despite his family encouraging him and trying to seek help for him, Chow made up his mind to kill himself and his wife, in order to "save" her and their unborn child from any creditors.

After another night of insomnia, he grabbed a kitchen knife and killed his pregnant wife. He then tried to kill himself, before deciding to call the police to avoid implicating his father who was on his way to fetch him. Chow, a 35-year-old Singaporean, was sentenced to seven years' jail on Thursday (Oct 26) after pleading guilty to one charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.


Man to be charged with murdering wife - body found at Holiday Inn Express Katong
Police vehicles parked near Holiday Inn Express Singapore Katong at East Coast Road on Sep 9, 2023. (Photo: CNA/Jeraldine Yap)

A man has been arrested for allegedly murdering his wife, whose body was found in a hotel along East Coast Road, police said on Saturday (Sep 9). CNA understands that the hotel is Holiday Inn Express Katong, located next to the i12 Katong shopping mall.

Following a tip-off at around 6.30pm, CNA arrived half an hour later and found a significant police presence there. Plainclothes and uniformed officers were seen entering the hotel and an ambulance was spotted leaving. Staff at the eateries across the road from the hotel said the police presence had started building up after 5pm, and that there were more police vehicles earlier but some had left, and there was another ambulance that left the area.

The police said that the 30-year-old man went to Marine Parade Neighbourhood Police Centre on Saturday at about 5.05pm to inform police officers that he had killed his wife at the hotel. The 32-year-old woman was found lying motionless with a slash wound in a hotel room when the police arrived. She was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene.


Man hacks wife with chopper at Beach Road
The victim was covered in blood while she tried defending herself in a curled position. Multiple staff from the other restaurants used whatever items they could gather to throw at the man and separate him from the victim

Graphic videos of a man using a chopper, and two other knives, to viciously slash a woman said to be his wife in a gory incident that occurred on Thursday (April 14) are circulating online.

Various videos caught the man assaulting the woman in an alley with a kitchen knife in what appeared to be a shocking, and bloody attack on the victim. At one point, the woman lay on the ground by the curb while the man slashed her multiple times with the chopper.

The victim was covered in blood while she tried defending herself in a curled position. Despite the handle of the chopper breaking, the man picked up the blade alone and continued the attack.


Singaporean man pleads not guilty in British court to murder of wife in Newcastle
Fong Soong Hert was arrested in December last year after his wife, Madam Pek Ying Ling, was found dead in a luxury apartment in Newcastle. PHOTOS: COURTESY OF ALEXIS FONG, SCREENGRAB FROM GOOGLE MAPS

A Singaporean man charged with the murder of his wife in Newcastle, England, pleaded not guilty in a British court on Tuesday (Jan 11).

Fong Soong Hert, 50, has been remanded since his arrest on Dec 6, after his wife, Madam Pek Ying Ling, 51, was found dead in a luxury apartment in Newcastle city centre that morning.

He appeared in Newcastle Crown Court on Tuesday via a video link to prison. Fong will return to court for a pre-trial hearing on Feb 28, ahead of a trial slated for June 6.



Injured man, 33, to be charged with murder of 30-year-old wife in Ang Mo Kio

A 33-year-old man will be charged on Wednesday (Jan 12) with the murder of his wife in Ang Mo Kio. In a news release on Tuesday, the police said that they had arrested the man over his suspected involvement in the murder of the 30-year-old woman.

The police said they were alerted to a stabbing case at a residential unit along Ang Mo Kio Street 23 at about 7.35am that day. Upon arriving, officers found woman lying motionless inside the residential unit, where she was pronounced dead at the scene.

The man was taken to the hospital with injuries. “Preliminary investigations revealed that the man and the woman are married,” said the police.


Singaporean charged with murder of wife appears in UK court via video link, plea hearing set on Jan 11
Madam Pek Ying Ling, 51, was found dead in a luxury apartment in the Newcastle city centre. PHOTOS: NORTHUMBRIA POLICE, ITV

A Singaporean man who is alleged to have murdered his wife in Newcastle, Britain, appeared via video link from prison at the Newcastle Crown Court on Thursday (Dec 9).

Fong Soong Hert, 50, has been held in custody since he was arrested on Monday, after his wife Madam Pek Ying Ling, 51, was found dead in a luxury apartment in the Newcastle city centre.

British news site ChronicleLive reported that Fong's court appearance was brief. Judge Paul Sloan Q.C. told him that the case was being adjourned with a plea and trial preparation hearing set on Jan 11 next year. The judge said a trial date had been set on June 6 next year.



Man charged with wife's murder in UK - son describes parents as 'very loving'
Mr Fong Soong Hert (left) with his wife Pek Ying Ling at Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland, on Nov 26, 2021. PHOTO: ALEXIS FONG

Madam Pek Ying Ling's last words to her three sons were: "I will be feeding your dad and will let him rest."

She had sent the text message together with a photo showing two sandwiches to their family group chat on WhatsApp.

Six hours later, she was dead.


Man lay in wait for his wife near her parents' home before stabbing her to death

The death of a 42-year-old woman who was repeatedly stabbed by her husband has been ruled an unlawful killing.

Delivering his findings in the coroner's inquiry into the deaths of the couple earlier this year, Coroner Prem Raj also said on Friday (Oct 29) that the man, 45, committed suicide by jumping from their flat in Punggol.

The Straits Times is not naming the couple to protect the identities of the children, who are protected under the Children and Young Persons Act.



Man stalked estranged wife before stabbing her to death and committing suicide

A man who stabbed his estranged wife 18 times in Tampines before jumping from his Punggol flat earlier this year was having "great difficulty" accepting that their marriage had broken down with little hope of reconciliation, a court heard on Friday (Oct 29).

Coroner Prem Raj ruled the death of the 42-year-old woman as an unlawful killing by her 45-year-old husband. He found the man's death a deliberate act of suicide.

CNA is not naming the man and his wife due to restrictions under the Children and Young Persons Act on publication of information relating to investigations or proceedings involving children and young people.


Criminal charges abated for man who died after allegedly stabbing wife to death in Tampines

He was facing criminal charges for purportedly stalking his estranged wife and violating a personal protection order (PPO) she had taken out against him.

But one week ago, the 45-year-old man allegedly inflicted slash wounds on her neck, then left her bloodied and motionless at the void deck of a Tampines public housing block. About three hours later, he was found at the foot of Block 205 Punggol Field where he lived.

Both were unconscious when separately taken to hospital and soon died.


Woman Who Died in Tampines Stabbing Incident Was Reportedly Killed By Her Husband

A 42-year-old woman who was found covered in blood with slash wounds on her neck at a Tampines void deck on Wednesday (10 Feb) is believed to have been attacked by her estranged husband.

Ms Iris Ting Su Yin died on the same day, shortly after being taken unconscious to the hospital. Her husband Ng Chee Kok, 45, also died after being taken to hospital.

The police believe that Ng assaulted his wife, though details of the attack are still unclear.


Tampines stabbing: Alleged attacker had repeatedly harassed woman who was his estranged wife

On Wednesday (Feb. 10) morning, a fatal stabbing incident happened at Block 206 Tampines Street 21. In an official statement that same day, the police said that they were alerted to the incident at about 6:30am on Feb. 10.

Upon arrival, police officers found a 42-year-old woman injured with slash wounds to the neck and lying motionless at the void deck of the block. A 45-year-old man, who is believed to be the assailant, was subsequently found lying motionless at about 9:10am at the foot of his flat at Block 205A Punggol Field.

Both the woman and the man were unconscious when separately conveyed to hospitals. They subsequently passed away.


35-year-old woman charged with murder of 8-year-old daughter
Lianhe Wanbao reported that residents in the area were unaware that something had happened until they spotted police officers at the scene on Aug 10. PHOTO: SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS

A woman was charged with the murder of her eight-year-old daughter on Thursday morning (Aug 11).

The 35-year-old is alleged to have caused the death of the girl some time before 11.38am in Geylang Lorong 31 on Tuesday.

A copy of the redacted charge sheet, dated Aug 10, obtained by The Straits Times on Thursday, indicated that the case is being handled by the Special Investigation Section of the Criminal Investigation Department.


ITE murder: Retiree who stabbed ex-wife in 2018 sentenced to life imprisonment
Ms Low Hwee Geok was found dead at the ITE College Central campus on the evening of July 19, 2018. PHOTOS: ST FILE, SCREENGRAB FROM ITE.EDU.SG

Weeks before he fatally stabbed his former wife in a carpark at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College Central campus, retiree Seet Cher Hng wrote in a note: "She has made me the best I can be, to be a killer."

On Wednesday (Sept 22), the 69-year-old was sentenced to life imprisonment.

He was convicted of a reduced murder charge by the High Court last week, after he indicated that he would not be contesting the charge.


Man who stabbed ex-wife: So bitter, he carved dates of her alleged dalliances on knife
Ms Low Hwee Geok had been stabbed eight times at the ITE College Central carpark by her former husband, Seet Cher Hng. PHOTO: ITE.EDU.SG, TNP FILE

Years after his divorce, a retiree felt so resentful that he engraved on a knife the dates of his former wife's alleged dalliances before ambushing her at a carpark at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College Central campus.

Seet Cher Hng, now 69, waited at the carpark for almost three hours and, at about 7.30pm on July 19, 2018, confronted Ms Low Hwee Geok, 56, inside her car. A struggle ensued and as she tried to get away from him, he stabbed her eight times. He then stabbed himself 13 times on his upper torso and collapsed on top of her.

A forensic pathologist said each of the three wounds to Ms Low's left upper chest, left mid-back and left lower back was sufficient to cause death.


Man sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering his ex-wife at ITE campus

A man who murdered his ex-wife by stabbing her multiple times at her workplace at the Institute of Technical Education College Central was sentenced to life imprisonment on Wednesday (Sep 22).

Seet Cher Hng, 69, was found guilty last week of one count of murder, after he said an hour into the opening of the trial that he wanted to plead guilty. His lawyer said this was to shield Seet's daughter, whom he “loves dearly”, and other loved ones from re-living the tragedy.

He had married 56-year-old Low Hwee Geok, a divisional director of the examinations division at ITE College Central, in 1993. They divorced in June 2011, but Seet was unhappy with the division of matrimonial assets and believed that the divorce had occurred because of Ms Low's alleged infidelity.


'I took your mummy away for hurting daddy': Retiree who killed ex-wife at an ITE campus had written chilling notes

Weeks before he fatally stabbed his former wife in a carpark at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College Central campus, retiree Seet Cher Hng wrote in a note: "She has made me the best I can be, to be a killer."

On Wednesday (Sept 22), the 69-year-old was sentenced to life imprisonment. He was convicted of a reduced murder charge by the High Court last week, after he indicated that he would not be contesting the charge.

Seet, who believed he did not get a fair share of the matrimonial assets, had been demanding money from Ms Low Hwee Geok, 56, and even threatened to sue her. He also blamed her alleged infidelity for their marriage ending and went as far as engraving on a knife the dates when he purportedly caught her.


Man who killed ex-wife at ITE – snap decision or the result of an obsession?

Seet could not let go. Since his divorce in 2011, he was tormented by her alleged infidelity. What made it worse for him was the division of matrimonial assets in the divorce. He felt shortchanged by an amount between $200k and $500k. A retiree, aged 69, Seet made numerous demands for the return of the money. He persisted for seven long years. He even claimed that a part of the perceived debt is compensation to him for her alleged infidelity. His ex-wife was then 56.

Seet then took matters into his own hands. He waited three hours for her at the ITE campus carpark. FYI, they both worked there and that was how they met and married in 1993 (with one daughter). The fateful date was July 19, 2018 and Seet had everything planned. He reserved a car through car-sharing site and his haversack contained three knives, a spanner and a note addressed to the police, amongst other things. It’s anyone’s guess what was written in the note as it was not revealed in court. Nevertheless, the tragic incident may reveal his intention for the written note.

That night at 7:30 pm, Seet entered into his ex-wife’s car and a struggle ensued inside. As she managed to break free and run off, Seet gave chase. When he caught up with her, he “stabbed her eight times.” And this is the part thereafter that may shed some light on the note he left in his haversack for the police. After stabbing her, Seet turned the knife on himself and “stabbed himself 13 times on his upper torso and collapsed on top of her.”


Woodlands double-murder trial: Property agent spent a week in flat after strangling pregnant wife and daughter
Madam Choong Pei Shan and her four-year-old daughter Zi Ning were allegedly murdered by Madam Choong's husband Teo Ghim Heng in January 2017. PHOTO: ADE TEO/FACEBOOK

One week before Chinese New Year in 2017, debt-ridden property agent Teo Ghim Heng strangled his wife, who was six months pregnant, and their four-year-old daughter.

He slept on the same bed as the bodies for one week in his Woodlands flat, with the air-conditioner turned on to delay the decomposition process. He searched the Internet for ways to commit suicide, leaving the flat only to buy food and air freshener.

He then set the bodies on fire, claiming that he had also tried to kill himself in the blaze but aborted his attempt as it was too hot.


Woodlands murders: Man sentenced to death for killing pregnant wife and 4-year-old daughter
Teo Ghim Heng (in red) is accused of killing his pregnant wife Choong Pei Shan and their four-year-old daughter. (Photos: TODAY/Wee Teck Hian)

A man was sentenced to death on Thursday (Nov 12) for murdering his pregnant wife and four-year-old daughter in their Woodlands flat three years ago. The judge called it a "tragic case" of lives lost and "a family torn asunder".

Teo Ghim Heng, 45, was convicted of two counts of murder for killing his wife, Choong Pei Shan, who was six months pregnant, before doing the same to their daughter. He strangled his 39-year-old wife with a towel after quarrelling with her about finances. She purportedly insulted him in front of their daughter, calling him a useless father and husband, and he strangled her with a towel before using his hands to finish the job.

The girl was in the room playing and watching television while this went on. After killing his wife, Teo decided to kill his daughter and himself to "reunite the family" in death. The girl cried as she was strangled, and Teo placed the two bodies on a bed and slept beside them for seven days.


Woodlands double-murder trial: Accused said wife called him 'useless' during argument
Police officers taking away Teo Ghim Heng, who is believed to be the dead woman's husband, in connection with the deaths. Madam Choong (right), who went by the name of Ade Teo on Facebook, with her four-year-old daughter Zi Ning. PHOTOS: SHIN MIN DAILY, FACEBOOK PAGE OF ADE TEO

Before he killed his pregnant wife, accused murderer Teo Ghim Heng recalled her saying to their daughter: "Zi Ning, look at how useless your father is."

That was the last thing Madam Choong Pei Shan, 39, said to their four-year-old daughter Zi Ning, before the woman and the girl were strangled, the High Court heard on Wednesday (July 3).

Teo's account of an argument that transpired on the morning of Jan 20, 2017, shortly before he allegedly murdered his wife and daughter, emerged on the second day of his trial.


Woodlands double-murder: Ex-property agent convicted of strangling pregnant wife and daughter, gets death penalty
Teo Ghim Heng strangled his wife and daughter before spending a week with their bodies in their Woodlands flat. PHOTO: ST FILE

A former property agent was sentenced to death on Thursday (Nov 12) after he was found guilty of murdering his pregnant wife and their four-year-old daughter.

"This is a tragic case. It is a case of lives lost, a family torn asunder," said High Court judge Kannan Ramesh as he delivered his decision.

Teo Ghim Heng, 45, had strangled his wife, Madam Choong Pei Shan, 39, a housewife who was six months pregnant, and daughter Zi Ning in their Woodlands flat on Jan 20, 2017.



10 years' jail for man who killed wife because he believed she was a demon
Paul Leslie Quirk had heard voices prompting him to kill his wife. PHOTO: ST FILE, PAUL QUIRK_CHRISTINA QUIRK/FACEBOOK

Believing that his wife was a demon who had to be banished back to the abyss, a man who suffered a relapse of schizophrenia repeatedly hit her with martial arts sticks and stabbed her neck.

Australian Paul Leslie Quirk, 49, had heard voices prompting him to kill his Singaporean wife Christina Khoo Gek Hwa. He had also seen a passer-by wearing a marathon "finisher" T-shirt, which his mind interpreted as “finish her”.

After killing Madam Khoo, 43, in their Sengkang condominium, Quirk, who was a podiatrist at Punggol Polyclinic, stabbed the family's 10-month-old poodle and threw it out of their home's third-floor balcony.


10 years' jail for man who stabbed, killed wife he thought was a demon
Australian Paul Leslie Quirk (left) hit Christina Khoo Gek Hwa (right) repeatedly with martial arts sticks and stabbed her in the neck. The killing took place at the couple's home in Esparina Residences in Sengkang). PHOTOS: TNP FILE, FACEBOOK/PAUL QUIRK_CHRISTINA QUIRK, SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS

Believing that his wife was a demon who had to be banished back to the abyss, a man who suffered a relapse of schizophrenia repeatedly hit her with martial arts sticks and stabbed her neck.

Australian Paul Leslie Quirk, 49, had heard voices prompting him to kill his Singaporean wife Christina Khoo Gek Hwa. He had also seen a passer-by wearing a marathon "finisher" T-shirt.

After killing Madam Khoo, 43, in their Sengkang condominium, Quirk, a podiatrist at Punggol Polyclinic, stabbed their 10-month-old poodle and threw it out of their home's third-storey balcony.


10 years’ jail for schizophrenic man who killed wife, dog in Buangkok condo while having hallucinations
Paul Leslie Quirk, 49, was under the delusion that his wife was a demon

Thinking his wife was a demon that he needed to banish from existence, Paul Leslie Quirk viciously beat her with martial arts weapons in their Buangkok condominium unit in a bid to “finish her” in January last year.

Christina Khoo Gek Hwa fled to the balcony, where fellow residents watched in shock as he continued assaulting her while she pleaded for help. When she ran back into the apartment and eventually collapsed, he fatally stabbed her multiple times in the neck.

He then similarly killed a 10-month-old pet poodle and threw it off the balcony. On Monday (May 24), the Australian, now aged 49, was sentenced in the High Court to 10 years’ jail.


Man with schizophrenia who killed wife and dog jailed 10 years
Paul Leslie Quirk is accused of murdering wife Christina Khoo at Esparina Residences on 3 January 2020. (PHOTO: Facebook/Paul Quirk)

Believing that his wife was a demon that he had to banish, a podiatrist with schizophrenia who went off medication listened to the repeated and insistent voices in his head to kill her, a court heard.

Paul Leslie Quirk, now 49, repeatedly hit his wife Christina Khoo Gek Hwa, 43, on the head with a pair of kali sticks and a hanger until she collapsed, then stabbed her neck with a kitchen knife till he was satisfied that she was dead in January last year. He then stabbed the family poodle multiple times before throwing it off the balcony.

When policemen arrived at the door after being called by neighbours who heard the commotion, Quirk told them that he was “Jesus Christ” and that he had killed his ex-wife because “she is a demon". He also said that he had killed the family dog because it was “the demon’s familiar”, and that by throwing it off the balcony he had thrown it “into the abyss”.


10 years' jail for man who killed wife he believed was cheating on him
Krishnan Raju had pleaded guilty in July to a charge of culpable homicide for killing his wife Raithena Vaithena Samy. PHOTOS: ST FILE, FACEBOOK

A bus driver, who believed that his wife of 28 years was having an affair and stabbed her to death, was sentenced to 10 years' jail by the High Court on Friday (Sept 18).

Krishnan Raju, 53, had pleaded guilty in July to a charge of culpable homicide for killing Madam Raithena Vaithena Samy, 44, on the night of Oct 26, 2017, at their Loyang Gardens condominium.

He was originally charged with murder for the killing, in which he inflicted 13 stab wounds on his wife, including five to the chest which were fatal.


Indian Jailed For 10 Years For Killing Wife Over Affair Suspicion In Singapore

A 53-year-old Indian-origin man, who is suffering from delusional disorder, was on Friday sentenced to 10 years of jail for stabbing his wife to death as he suspected her of having an extramarital affair, a media report said.

Krishnan Raju, a self-employed bus driver ferrying factory workers and tourists, married Raithena Vaithena Samy when she was 17 and was "very possessive of her" throughout the relationship of 28 years, Channel News Asia reported.

Mr Raju suffered from delusional disorder - a belief or altered reality that is persistently held despite evidence or agreement to the contrary, generally in reference to a mental disorder-- and had developed trust issues. He started suspecting her of having an extramarital affair and often confronted her over the issue.


24-year-old man charged with murder of wife in Boon Lay Place
Cui Huan is accused of murdering his wife who was found motionless at the footpath at Block 211 Boon Lay Place. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR

A man was charged on Saturday (Aug 29) with
murdering his wife.

Appearing before a district court via video conferencing, Chinese national Cui Huan, 24, was accused of killing Ms Liang Xueqiu, 26, who was found at a foot path at Block 211 Boon Lay Place on Thursday.

Cui did not display any emotions when the charges were read out to him.



'Selfless father' who killed mentally ill daughter freed from jail after sentence backdated
Tan Tian Chye, 66, leaving the Changi Prison Complex on Oct 12, 2020. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR

A 66-year-old man, who killed his mentally ill adult daughter in 2018 after she pointed a knife at him, was released from prison on Monday (Oct 12), the day he was sentenced to two years and nine months in jail.

In sentencing Tan Tian Chye on Monday, High Court judge Hoo Sheau Peng noted that he had been a "selfless, loving and devoted father" who tirelessly cared for his demanding daughter.

The judge backdated the sentence to Nov 20, 2018, the day Tan was remanded in custody. Given the usual one-third remission for good behaviour, Tan was released from prison on Monday evening.


Man, 64, charged with murdering adult daughter in his Bedok South flat
Tan Tian Chye, 64, was charged with murdering his daughter in a unit on the eighth storey of Block 171 Bedok South Road. ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW

An elderly man who allegedly killed his adult daughter in his Housing Board flat in Bedok was taken to court on Tuesday (Nov 20).

Tan Tian Chye, 64, was charged with murdering Ms Desiree Tan Jiaping, 35, in an eighth story unit at Block 171 Bedok South Road.

Court documents did not disclose details of her injuries or if a weapon was used to kill her.


Man, 64, arrested after woman, 35, found murdered in Bedok South Road flat
Police cordon tape is seen at the ninth floor of the block where the incident happened. ST PHOTO: HARIZ BAHARUDIN

A 35-year-old woman was found dead in a Bedok South Road Housing Board flat on Monday afternoon (Nov 19).

A 64-year-old man suspected of being involved in her murder has been arrested.

The Straits Times understands that the man is Mr Tan Tian Chye, and that he is the father of the victim.


Chin Swee Road death: Couple charged with 2014 murder of 2-year-old daughter; child's remains found in a pot last week
In a statement on Monday, police said that they were alerted to the case at 8.30pm on Sept 10. When officers arrived, they found the toddler's remains inside a one-room rental flat on the eighth story of the block. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG

A couple, accused of killing their young daughter whose remains were found in a flat at Block 52 Chin Swee Road last Tuesday (Sept 10), are said to have committed the murder in 2014.

The couple were taken to court on Tuesday (Sept 17) and charged with the murder of the two-year-old in the unit in March that year. They cannot be named due to a gag order.

The Straits Times understands that the child's remains were found inside a metal pot last week.


Remains found in pot case: Mum accused of murdering toddler faces extra charges
The toddler's remains were found in a metal pot in 2019. PHOTO: ST FILE

A woman accused of murdering her two-year-old daughter whose remains were found inside a metal pot five years later, is facing more charges including multiple counts of abuse involving four other children.

The 32-year-old woman and her husband, now 33, are accused of killing their daughter in a Chin Swee Road flat in March 2014. The toddler’s remains were found in the pot in 2019.

Her case was mentioned in a district court on Friday (Feb 5). The couple cannot be named due to a gag order to protect the children’s identities.



Couple charged with 2014 murder of 2-year-old daughter; child's remains found in a pot last week
Police officers found the toddler's remains inside a one-room rental flat on the eighth storey of the block. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG

A couple, accused of killing their young daughter whose remains were found in a flat at Block 52 Chin Swee Road last Tuesday (Sept 10), are said to have committed the murder in 2014.

The couple were taken to court on Tuesday (Sept 17) and charged with the murder of the two-year-old in the unit in March that year. They cannot be named due to a gag order.

The Straits Times understands that the child's remains were found inside a metal pot last week.



Uxoricide

Uxoricide (from Latin uxor meaning "wife" and -cide, from caedere meaning "to cut, to kill") is the killing of one's own wife or girlfriend. It can refer to the act itself or the person who carries it out. The killing of a husband is called mariticide.

Unconscious conflict - Proponents of psychodynamic theories have offered explanations for the mechanisms underlying the occurrence of uxoricide. It has been suggested that men who kill their partners experience both an unconscious dependence on their wife and a resentment of her. These men wish to leave the relationship, but unknowingly perceive themselves as too helpless to do so, which culminates into a belief that killing the wife is the only way to be free of her. This approach also offers an alternative explanation for instances where a man commits uxoricide and subsequent immediate suicide – the man ends his life not due to guilt, but instead due to his perceived helplessness and dependency.

Defense mechanisms - Links have also been established between violence in childhood and likelihood of uxoricide occurring. Psychodynamic researchers argue that being the victim of abuse in childhood leads to being a perpetrator of domestic abuse in adulthood via the route of defence mechanisms – in this case, violence is an unconscious defensive adaption to childhood trauma and other adverse events. Other psychodynamic researchers have reported that Thematic Apperception Tests reveal significant trends of rejection by a mother or wife in men who commit uxoricide. Psychoanalytic dream interpretation has also argued that unconscious conflict manifests into violent outbursts. For example, in one instance one man had experienced and recorded over 200 distressing, mostly violent dreams prior to murdering his wife.


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