Mentally stable couple will be tried for murder

The magistrate court here ruled that the couple who attempted multiple suicide will be tried for murdering their daughter, after finding them both to be mentally stable.

Magistrate KB Elena Hong Tze Lan made the decision after receiving mental reports of Hiew Yook Cheang, 50, and his wife, Wong Yin Tinn, 38, Bernama reported.

The former contractor and his wife nodded their heads after the charge was read out to them in Mandarin. No pleas were recorded.

The court has set Feb 21 for case mention pending autopsy report.

The couple had first tried to commit suicide on Sept 11, last year by burning charcoal in their apartment and inhaling the fumes before they went to bed but the attempt failed.

They tried again the next day and this time, their five year-old daughter, Mabel Hiew Mun died.

Together with their seven year-old son, the couple had gone to Klang to find a right spot for the whole family to commit suicide but their third attempt also failed.

They then brought the girl’s body back to their apartment in Sri Manja Square, Taman Sentosa, Petaling Jaya.

The police arrested the parents the next day after her classmate and mother found her body when they went to check on her since she was absent from kindergarten for five days.

Initial investigations found Mabel died from charcoal fumes. It was also reported that her family was facing financial problems.