Public Prosecutor v Lee Wee Cheng: Culpable Homicide Sentencing for Patricide
In Public Prosecutor v Lee Wee Cheng, the High Court of Singapore sentenced Lee Wee Cheng to 9 years imprisonment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Lee Wee Cheng caused the death of his father by punching his head and kicking his body. The court considered the accused's intoxication and past violent behavior, as well as mitigating factors such as the accused calling the police and expressing remorse.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Accused sentenced to 9 years imprisonment
1.3 Case Type
Criminal
1.4 Judgment Type
Oral Judgment
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Lee Wee Cheng was sentenced to 9 years for culpable homicide after causing his father's death by violent assault. The court considered intoxication and past violence.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Prosecutor | Prosecution | Government Agency | Judgment for Prosecution | Won | Thong Chee Kun |
| Lee Wee Cheng | Defendant | Individual | Conviction | Lost | Tan Teow Yeow |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Amarjeet Singh | Judicial Commissioner | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Thong Chee Kun | Attorney-General's Chambers |
| Tan Teow Yeow | Independent Practitioner |
4. Facts
- The accused punched and kicked his father, Lee Luan Ku, causing his death.
- The incident occurred at the deceased's residence.
- The accused assaulted his father for reprimanding him for sniffing glue.
- The accused had consumed alcohol and glue before the assault.
- The deceased died from internal bleeding due to multiple chest and abdominal injuries.
- The accused had a prior conviction for voluntarily causing grievous hurt in 1981.
- The accused called the police after finding his father unconscious.
5. Formal Citations
- Public Prosecutor v Lee Wee Cheng, CC 72/2000, [2000] SGHC 249
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Death of Lee Luan Ku | |
| Accused arrested | |
| Judgment delivered |
7. Legal Issues
- Culpable Homicide
- Outcome: The accused was found guilty of culpable homicide.
- Category: Substantive
- Sentencing Considerations
- Outcome: The court considered intoxication, past convictions, mitigating factors, and the relationship between the accused and the deceased when determining the sentence.
- Category: Procedural
8. Remedies Sought
- Imprisonment
9. Cause of Actions
- Culpable Homicide
10. Practice Areas
- Criminal Law
11. Industries
- No industries specified
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No cited cases | |||||
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Penal Code, Chapter 224, section 304(a) | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Culpable Homicide
- Intoxication
- Patricide
- Sentencing
- Aggravation
- Mitigation
15.2 Keywords
- Culpable Homicide
- Patricide
- Singapore
- Sentencing
- Intoxication
16. Subjects
- Criminal Law
- Sentencing
17. Areas of Law
- Criminal Law
- Culpable Homicide
- Sentencing