Elderly couple ‘in murder-suicide attempt’
An 84-year-old man was found dead with tape covering his nose and mouth while his wife was discovered injured and unconscious in the bedroom of their upscale flat yesterday in a suspected murder-suicide attempt.
Investigations revealed the woman, 71, had been considering taking her own life around two weeks earlier because she was concerned about not being able to take care of her husband, a source familiar with the case said.
The Post learned the man suffered from dementia and muscle atrophy, had limited mobility and required care. His wife suffered from depression and emotional disorders.
The source said police arrested the woman on suspicion of murdering her husband. Last night she was listed as in a critical condition in hospital.
Emergency personnel arrived at the Beacon Hill Road flat in Kowloon Tong at around 4.20am after police received a report from one of the couple’s helpers.
The unconscious pair were discovered when the helper went to the man’s bedroom to help him change a diaper, the insider said.
“The helper discovered the man lying in bed with his mouth and nose covered with tape,” he said. “His unconscious wife was found on the floor beside a bloodstained knife near the bed.”
Police said the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
A spokesman said the wife suffered cuts to her neck and hand. She was taken to Caritas Medical Centre in Sham Shui Po and later transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital in Lai Chi Kok.
“After carrying out an investigation, police believe the killing occurred because of the influence of depression and emotional disorders as well as the wife’s concerns about her own inability to take care of her husband,” the source said.
Detectives from the Kowloon City district crime squad are treating the case as a murder-suicide attempt.
If you have suicidal thoughts, or know someone who is, help is available. For Hong Kong, dial 18111 for the government-run “Mental Health Support Hotline”, 2896 0000 for The Samaritans or 2382 0000 for Suicide Prevention Services.