‘Mahjong killer’ dealt 12-year term
- Details
- Created on Thursday, 08 March 2012 07:22
- Last Updated on Wednesday, 28 November 2012 18:00
- Written by Candy Chan , The Standard
HONG KONG - A two-way permit holder, dubbed the "mahjong killer" after slaying her elderly game partner and stealing her cash and jewelry, was jailed for 12 years yesterday. Luo Fudi, 48, had earlier pleaded guilty at the High Court to manslaughter and theft.
The court heard that victim Lee Wai-lan, 88, shared a flat in Fu Nga House on Tai Wo Hau Estate, Kwai Chung, with a friend. On October 11, 2010, Lee invited Luo and two others to play mahjong at her flat around 11.30am.
Luo arrived 2 hours ahead of the others and chit-chatted with Lee. Soon after, Lee felt tired and took a nap. While the old woman was asleep, Luo slipped into her bedroom to steal HK$2,000 in cash and a bag of jewelry.
But Lee woke up and screamed for help when she saw what was happening. In an attempt to silence the elderly woman, Luo wrapped her hands around her nose and mouth.
The body of Lee was discovered by her flatmate when she arrived home around 10pm. She immediately called the daughter of the dead woman who notified police.
Luo told the court she did not realize she had killed Lee during her attempt to silence her. She later met her boyfriend for dinner at a restaurant. She said she sold the jewelry for HK$15,621 and sent the money to her daughter in the mainland to pay for medical treatment. Luo was arrested three days later at another flat on the same estate.
Responsible
In sentencing, Justice Clare-Marie Beeson said that although Luo may not have intended to kill Lee, she was nevertheless responsible for causing the injuries that led to her death. In addition, she had stolen property belonging to her mahjong partner.
The defense contended that Luo had no intention of causing bodily harm, as she did not possess a weapon. The forensic report showed Luo had used strong pressure, and scratches to her body suggested Lee had struggled to break free.
Justice Beeson also slammed Luo for not immediately calling an ambulance when she discovered that Lee was in difficulty. She added that elderly people are weak and easily hurt and, as such, the case was not as trivial as the defense was trying to suggest.
I'm in Toscane too !! Close Siena.
I wondered to improve my gaming during my holidays but I can't found player...
This news is funny indeed :)
That is also why, in these trivial news stories, I usually give the link to the original article, so my readers will have a general idea about how trustful the source is.
See also the discussion here.
How can you claim to be an independant journalist when you relay second-hand, unverifiable stories, that, from what all we can know, might very well be embellished or pure fictions?