Public Prosecutor v Kee Hwee Lun: Infanticide, Mental Illness, and Sentencing
In Public Prosecutor v Kee Hwee Lun, the High Court of Singapore, on April 27, 2002, addressed a case of infanticide. The court, presided over by Judicial Commissioner Choo Han Teck, considered the accused's mental state, which, while not meeting the legal definition of insanity, significantly influenced her actions. Acknowledging the accused's illness and unlikelihood of repeating the offense due to ongoing treatment, the court imposed a fine of $1,000 on each charge instead of imprisonment.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Fine Imposed
1.3 Case Type
Criminal
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
High Court judgment in Public Prosecutor v Kee Hwee Lun regarding infanticide, considering the accused's mental state and imposing a fine instead of imprisonment.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Prosecutor | Prosecution | Government Agency | Partial | Partial | |
| Kee Hwee Lun | Defendant | Individual | Fine Imposed | Partial |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Choo Han Teck | Judicial Commissioner | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|
4. Facts
- The defendant was charged with infanticide.
- A medical report indicated the defendant suffered from a mental illness.
- The court found the defendant's mental state did not meet the legal definition of insanity.
- The court considered the defendant's mental illness as a mitigating factor.
- The court determined general deterrence was not relevant in this case.
- The court was satisfied the defendant was unlikely to repeat the offense due to medication and therapy.
5. Formal Citations
- Public Prosecutor v Kee Hwee Lun, CC No 24 of 2001, [2002] SGHC 89
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Medical report by Dr Tommy Tan | |
| Arrest made | |
| Judgment issued |
7. Legal Issues
- Sentencing for Infanticide
- Outcome: The court imposed a fine instead of imprisonment, considering the defendant's mental state and unlikelihood of repeating the offense.
- Category: Substantive
- Mental Illness and Criminal Responsibility
- Outcome: The court acknowledged the defendant's mental illness, although it did not meet the legal definition of insanity, as a mitigating factor in sentencing.
- Category: Substantive
8. Remedies Sought
- Punishment
- Incarceration
9. Cause of Actions
- Infanticide
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 |
|---|---|
| No applicable statutes | |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Infanticide
- Mental illness
- Sentencing
- General deterrence
- Mitigating factor
- Remand
15.2 Keywords
- Infanticide
- Mental Illness
- Sentencing
- Singapore
- Criminal Law
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Sentencing | 80 |
| Criminal Law | 75 |
| Psychiatry | 60 |
| Family Law | 40 |
16. Subjects
- Criminal Law
- Mental Health Law