Woman in Hong Kong Sentenced to Indefinite Psychiatric Custody for Killing Daughter

A Hong Kong court has ordered a woman diagnosed with schizophrenia to remain in indefinite psychiatric custody after she fatally stabbed her daughter during a psychotic episode.

 Court Ruling

High Court judge Anthony Kwok Kai-on handed down the sentence on Wednesday, following expert recommendations that the woman’s condition required long-term monitoring. The 50-year-old defendant, part-time security guard *Yang Leying*, was visibly distressed as she was escorted from the courtroom.

The Case Background

Yang pleaded guilty to manslaughter earlier this year after prosecutors downgraded her initial murder charge. Her daughter, 24-year-old *Chen Lianqin*, was killed on December 6, 2021, inside their Wong Tai Sin public housing flat. Neighbours recalled hearing screams in the early hours and witnessing Chen’s desperate cries for help before she collapsed with fatal stab wounds.

Prosecutors said Yang had suffered from schizophrenia since at least 2007. On the night of the attack, she was under delusions that her daughter posed a threat to her younger son.

 The Tragic Incident

According to witness testimony, Yang stabbed Chen repeatedly in a corridor outside their flat, shouting “she must die today.” Paramedics found Yang sitting on her unconscious daughter, who later died in hospital. Yang told police she believed her daughter was harming her son and had been cheated out of her life savings.

Mental Health Considerations

Psychiatrists advised that Yang had poor control over her illness and remained at risk of violence. Based on their assessment, the judge ordered her detention at *Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre* for an indefinite period.

 Broader Implications

The case highlights ongoing concerns over mental health treatment and monitoring in Hong Kong. Authorities first became aware of Yang’s psychiatric struggles nearly two decades ago, underscoring questions about systemic support and intervention for those with severe mental illness.