When it comes to deaths in married couples, people often assume that the husband is suspected of killing wife or vice versa. Most of these crimes usually happen after a heated argument goes wrong.
This kind of tragic turn of events recently occurred between a married couple where the man is suspected of killing wife.
A 51-year-old Singaporean will undergo a trial in the United Kingdom for allegedly killing his wife during a holiday trip. The police stated that the husband allegedly ended his wife’s life by suffocating her with a pillow.
Man Suspected of Killing Wife Makes Shocking Testimony
The suspect, Fong Soong Hert, denied the allegations of killing his 51-year-old wife, Pek Ying Ling. A court in the United Kingdom accused him of murder for allegedly suffocating his wife with a pillow.
He appeared at the Newcastle Crown Court on the 1st of August (Monday). While there, he claimed to forget the alleged act of killing his wife. However, Mr Fong said he accepts that he most likely placed a pillow over Ms Pek’s face.
Peter Makepeace is the prosecutor in charge of the case. In his opening note, he said that Pek Ying was unhappy with Mr Fong while the couple spent a holiday in Britain.
During that time, Fong Soong Hert keeps smoking even though he is unwell while they are on a trip. He keeps on refusing to go to the hospital despite repeatedly falling.
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Son Learns What Happened to His Mum
The incident happened on the 6th of December last year. CCTV footage caught the couple arriving back at their hotel in the early hours of that day.
At 7:32 AM of the same day, they announced the death of Pek Ying Ling at the County Aparthotel in Newcastle.
On the same day, Mr Fong’s son recalls receiving a call from his father. While on the phone, the suspect seemingly confessed to his son about hurting his mom.
The son then asked his father what he meant, and he said: “She’s dead. I just lost it. I tried to cover her mouth to shush her. I just lost it.”
According to Prosecutor Makepeace, he sent his father several text messages shortly after their phone call conversation. He advised his father to stay and wait for him and the police.
Fong Soong Hert replied that he was sorry and wanted to die. Concerning this, the son tried reassuring him that it was okay. However, Fong expressed his devastation and possible guilt over his wife’s death.
Before the incident, the couple came to the hospital. They need an ambulance because Fong Soong Hert fell.
“I just wanted her to keep quiet,” he responded to authorities.
It was on the night of the 5th of December when the couple returned to the hotel earlier. A CCTV footage shows the couple entered their hotel room at 12:17 AM on the 6th of December.
Since then, no one left the room until the police came on the scene the next morning. While the police were interrogating him, Fong told them that he had no intention of killing his wife.
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He Denied Killing Wife
Ultimately, Fong Soong Hert denied the allegation of killing wife, Pek Ying Ling. However, he pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He was arguing that he had no intention of killing her or causing her really serious bodily harm.
Manslaughter is an unlawful killing that does not involve malice aforethought. In relation to this, malice aforethought is the intent to seriously harm or kill or an extreme reckless disregard for life.
Additionally, the absence of malice aforethought means that manslaughter involves less moral blame compared to first- or second-degree murder.
Prosecutor Makepeace told the court that the couple has no history of violence towards each other. However, one of the couple’s sons said their mum Pek was known to scold her husband.
An Argument Gone Wrong
During the couple’s stay on the Isle of Skye, Fong Soong Hert got some injuries, so they visited a hospital. Concerning this, Fong fell several times after that in Newcastle.
The prosecutor then said that it was the primary reason why his wife was “scolding him for not taking care of himself.”
Prosecutor Makepeace then told the court that the man may have knelt on his wife’s shoulder during the attack. He carried off the required strength to kill her during that time.
The emergency service found Pek lying with her legs hanging over the bottom of the bed and a pillow over her face.
According to the couple’s family, Fong Soong Hert and Pek Ying Ling are very loving towards each other. The couple went to different places and travelled across different countries.
The trial started on the 1st of August 2022. It is expected to conclude on Tuesday, the following week.