Death of elderly pair in Sau Mau Ping flat a case of murder-suicide, police say

Man, 77, who killed his ex-wife before hanging himself, reportedly felt ‘hopeless’ after their separation and was anguished by son’s suicide in 2018

An elderly man in Hong Kong is believed to have killed his ex-wife before hanging himself at a public housing estate, as he reportedly felt “hopeless” after their separation following years of marital conflict worsened by their son’s suicide, police have revealed.

Sau Mau Ping Assistant District Commander of Crime Terry Wan King-hang said on Thursday that the force believed the 77-year-old man killed his 71-year-old ex-wife in a Po Tat Estate flat before taking his own life on Wednesday.

Police first received a report from the man’s younger brother at about 4.13pm on Wednesday. The caller had become concerned after receiving a photograph of what appeared to be a suicide note from his older brother.

The brother had attempted to reach the man at the Sau Mau Ping flat but was unsuccessful, before reaching out to police for help.

Wan added that the woman had recently helped the man move into a rented subdivided flat in Wong Tai Sin, which investigators believe may have served as a trigger by reinforcing the finality of the separation.

“The male deceased felt hopeless about life because the situation had reached a point where the two would never see each other again,” the officer said.