The High Court on 17 August sentenced unemployed Tuen Mun man Wong Pak-ting to five years and four months’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to four counts of attempted murder involving his wife and three daughters.
The incident happened on or about 25 June 2024 at a unit in King On House, Shan King Estate. Wong added an unspecified substance to noodle soup and bubble tea and burned charcoal, causing his wife and daughters to become dizzy and fall asleep.
He later extinguished the charcoal because he could not bear for the family to die together, then left the flat. Firefighters found that its doors and windows had been opened. Wong’s wife and daughters were conscious and were taken to hospital for treatment.
The court heard that Wong had lost his business, owed nearly HK$900,000 and had moderate depression. The judge said the conduct was linked partly to his financial problems and depression and described the case as tragic.
The judge assessed Wong’s likelihood of reoffending as low and noted that his wife and daughters had forgiven him. He was sentenced to five years and four months’ imprisonment for the four attempted-murder charges.