SINGAPORE: A woman accused of killing her husband in Ang Mo Kio in 2019 will have her case reported to the Minister of Law after she was assessed to be unfit to plead on the grounds of an unsound mind.
Wang Shuzhen was arrested in 2019 after authorities found the victim, 63-year-old Mr Teh Hock Pine, lying motionless on the morning of October 27 at Block 633 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6 in the morning of October 27 that year.
The 57-year-old was originally charged with murder, but has since been downgraded to culpable homicide not amount to murder for allegedly using a glass ball - weighing about 2.6 kg - to hit Mr Teh's head at least four times at about 5.45 am.
On Friday, the prosecution, referring to an Institute of Mental Health IMH report, stated that Wang was not fit to plead in the circumstances that apply under the Criminal Procedure Code.
Section 248 of the Criminal Procedure Code states that the court must stay proceedings if the designated medical practitioner certifies that the accused is of sound mind and incapable of making her defence.
Justice Dedar Singh Gill noted on the Sep 28 medical report, and a certification on Sep 29 that Wang was of an unsound mind and incapable of making her defence.
He directed that the case be reported to the Minister of Law, under section 249 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Section 249 states that if the offence is not bailable, the court must report the case to the Minister of Law. The court must give effect to the order, and the Minister may order that the accused be confined in a psychiatric institution.
Justice Gill ordered that Wang be held at the Changi Prison Complex, pending the Minister's order.
During the hearing, Wang's lawyer applied to discharge under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme CLAS Ms Sadhana Devi.
The lawyer said she spoke to her client on Friday morning.
She stated that she wants to discharge us as her counsel. It would be very difficult for us to continue, because of her belief that my colleagues are involved in some way or the other with her husband. If Wang's condition improves, she may apply for a presentation under CLAS again, according to the lawyer.
Wang, who is a Chinese national, appeared in court via a video link. Wang had been diagnosed with schizophrenia with psychotic symptoms, according to previous psychiatric reports.
In response to the case, Deputy Public Prosecutor Teo Lu Jia said she would raise the matter of representation at the pre-trial conference. If convicted of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, Wang could be jailed for life or up to 20 years with a fine. She can't be caned because she is a woman.