Public Prosecutor v Lee Heng Wong: Culpable Homicide Sentencing for Stabbing at Disco
In Public Prosecutor v Lee Heng Wong, the High Court of Singapore sentenced Lee Heng Wong to 16 years' imprisonment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The charge stemmed from an incident on 14 February 2010, where Wong, a bouncer at 'De Basement Live Disco,' stabbed Xi Wei Feng, a patron, twice in the left thigh, resulting in his death. The court, presided over by Valerie Thean J, considered aggravating factors such as premeditation and Wong's abscondment from Singapore for over 12 years after the incident. The defense argued for a lighter sentence, citing provocation and Wong's eventual surrender, but the court emphasized retribution and deterrence as primary sentencing considerations.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
General Division of the High Court of the Republic of Singapore1.2 Outcome
Accused sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment
1.3 Case Type
Criminal
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Lee Heng Wong was sentenced to 16 years' imprisonment for culpable homicide after stabbing a patron at a disco. The court considered aggravating factors like premeditation and abscondment.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Prosecutor | Prosecution | Government Agency | Judgment for the Prosecution | Won | Timotheus Koh, Brian Tan |
| Lee Heng Wong | Defendant | Individual | Sentence of 16 years’ imprisonment | Lost | Tan Joon Liang Josephus, Cory Wong Gao Yean, Siew Wei Ying Silas |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Valerie Thean | Judge of the High Court | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Timotheus Koh | Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Brian Tan | Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Tan Joon Liang Josephus | Invictus Law Corporation |
| Cory Wong Gao Yean | Invictus Law Corporation |
| Siew Wei Ying Silas | Invictus Law Corporation |
4. Facts
- The accused was working as a bouncer and manager at 'De Basement Live Disco'.
- The deceased became intoxicated and disruptive at the Disco.
- The deceased was involved in a confrontation with other patrons at a stairwell.
- The accused stabbed the deceased twice in the left thigh with a knife.
- The deceased was discovered lying at the bottom of the stairwell in a pool of blood.
- The deceased died from haemorrhage due to the stab wounds.
- The accused fled Singapore for Malaysia after learning of the deceased's death.
- The accused surrendered to the Royal Malaysian Police more than 12 years later.
5. Formal Citations
- Public Prosecutor v Lee Heng Wong, Criminal Case No 57 of 2024, [2025] SGHC 3
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Accused stabbed the deceased | |
| Deceased pronounced dead at Tan Tock Seng Hospital | |
| Autopsy performed on the deceased | |
| Accused surrendered to the Royal Malaysian Police | |
| Accused returned to Singapore and arrested | |
| Prosecution’s Address on Sentence filed | |
| Defence’s Mitigation Plea dated | |
| Accused sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment | |
| Full grounds of decision issued |
7. Legal Issues
- Culpable Homicide
- Outcome: The court found the accused guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
- Category: Substantive
- Sentencing
- Outcome: The court sentenced the accused to 16 years’ imprisonment, backdated to the date of his arrest.
- Category: Procedural
- Aggravating Factors
- Outcome: The court considered aggravating factors such as premeditation and abscondment in determining the sentence.
- Category: Procedural
8. Remedies Sought
- Imprisonment
9. Cause of Actions
- Culpable Homicide
10. Practice Areas
- Criminal Law
- Homicide
11. Industries
- Entertainment
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Prosecutor v Tan Teck Soon | High Court | Yes | [2011] SGHC 137 | Singapore | Referenced by both Prosecution and Defence as a sentencing precedent for culpable homicide. |
| PP v Low Chuan Woo | High Court | Yes | [2014] SGHC 118 | Singapore | Cited by the Defence to argue for a lower sentence due to provocation, but distinguished by the court due to different facts. |
| PP v Miya Manik | High Court | Yes | [2020] SGHC 164 | Singapore | The Defence suggested using the sentencing approach set out in this case, but the court disagreed because it was not a case of culpable homicide. |
| PP v Miya Manik and another appeal and another matter | Court of Appeal | Yes | [2022] SGCA 73 | Singapore | Affirmed Miya Manik (HC). The Defence suggested using the sentencing approach set out in Miya Manik (HC), but the court disagreed because it was not a case of culpable homicide. |
| PP v Sarle Steepan s/o Kolundu | High Court | Yes | [2009] 4 SLR(R) 1143 | Singapore | Cited as a reference point, with the Defence arguing that the present case was less serious. |
| Lim Ghim Peow v PP | Unknown | Yes | [2014] 4 SLR 1287 | Singapore | Cited for the principle that sentencing in culpable homicide cases must be fact-sensitive. |
| Dewi Sukowati v PP | Unknown | Yes | [2017] 1 SLR 450 | Singapore | Cited for the principle that sentencing in culpable homicide cases must be fact-sensitive. |
| PP v Tan Kei Loon Allan | Unknown | Yes | [1998] 3 SLR(R) 679 | Singapore | Cited for the principle that courts have refrained from imposing sentencing frameworks or benchmarks for culpable homicide because the range of circumstances in which such offences are committed are extremely varied |
| Luong Thi Trang Hoang Kathleen v PP | Unknown | Yes | [2010] 1 SLR 707 | Singapore | Cited for the principle that sentences meted out in unreported decisions should not be relied upon when determining the appropriate sentence for subsequent cases |
| Abdul Mutalib bin Aziman v PP | Unknown | Yes | [2021] 4 SLR 1220 | Singapore | Cited for the principle that sentences meted out in unreported decisions should not be relied upon when determining the appropriate sentence for subsequent cases |
| Toh Suat Leng Jennifer v PP | Unknown | Yes | [2022] 5 SLR 1075 | Singapore | Cited for the principle that sentences meted out in unreported decisions should not be relied upon when determining the appropriate sentence for subsequent cases |
| Ng Soon Kim v Public Prosecutor | High Court | Yes | [2019] SGHC 247 | Singapore | The sentencing framework was adapted in Miya Manik (HC) from this case, which dealt with s 324 of the Penal Code. |
| Cheang Geok Lin v PP | Unknown | Yes | [2018] 4 SLR 548 | Singapore | Cited regarding the nexus between absconding and the offence. |
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Penal Code (Cap 224, 2008 Rev Ed) s 304(a) | Singapore |
| Criminal Procedure Code 2010 s 325(1)(b) | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Culpable Homicide
- Stabbing
- Disco
- Bouncer
- Abscondment
- Premeditation
- Aggravating Factors
- Mitigating Factors
15.2 Keywords
- Culpable Homicide
- Sentencing
- Singapore
- Stabbing
- Disco
- Aggravating Factors
- Criminal Law
16. Subjects
- Criminal Law
- Sentencing
17. Areas of Law
- Criminal Law
- Sentencing
- Criminal Procedure