In Singapore, a woman was promised by her adoptive mother before her passing that the house would be left to her. However, her adoptive father later refused to transfer half the ownership of the flat, prompting the woman, fearing eviction, to develop murderous intent. Quietly waiting outside the bathroom, she stabbed her adoptive father multiple times as he opened the door after a shower, ultimately killing him.
Suffered from Paranoid Delusions
According to Shin Min Daily News, the defendant, Tan Qiu Yan (translated, age 33), pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter in the High Court on Monday (14th) and was sentenced to 18 years in prison. The judge noted that the defendant had committed a shocking and cruel act against her adoptive father who had raised her for many years and that the crime was premeditated. However, in view of the defendant's paranoid delusional disorder—impairing her judgment and self-control—the above sentence was given.
This family tragedy happened between 8pm on November 3, 2022, and 5:25am on November 4, at a flat in Block 190A, Sengkang River Valley. The deceased was the defendant's 67-year-old adoptive father, Tan Ya Bang (translated), who was slashed repeatedly and died from neck bleeding.
According to the case facts, the defendant was adopted by her adoptive parents in 1992. In 2019, the adoptive mother was diagnosed with lung cancer and eventually passed away on August 29, 2022. Before her death, the adoptive mother promised the defendant that she would transfer her share of the flat ownership to her.
However, during the adoptive mother's funeral, the defendant had several disputes with her adoptive father over the inheritance. In anger, the adoptive father told the defendant to move out of the flat, causing her to cry. The adoptive father's heart softened and he promised to transfer the entire house to the defendant. Despite this, the defendant still feared eviction and homelessness by her adoptive father, which led to her developing murderous thoughts.
Bought Knife Several Days After Funeral
On September 4, just days after the funeral, the defendant went to a supermarket and bought an 18cm knife, which she kept in her room. By the end of October, she discovered that after her adoptive mother’s death, the flat, which was co-owned by the adoptive parents, would automatically belong solely to her adoptive father. On November 2, the defendant asked her adoptive father if they could go to HDB to list her as an owner, which led to another heated argument. The adoptive father said that after he died, he would not leave the flat to her, but would donate it instead.
Tested Knife Sharpness with Banana
The next day, the defendant noticed her adoptive father was avoiding her while making phone calls. Back in her room, she practiced swinging the knife in the air and tested its sharpness on a banana, but ultimately decided to give her adoptive father one last chance. While her adoptive father was in the bathroom washing her work clothes, she asked once more if he would transfer half the ownership to her, only to be refused again.
After being refused, the defendant began planning how to carry out the crime. She decided to strike while her adoptive father was showering, waiting outside the bathroom for the opportunity. When her adoptive father finished showering and opened the door, the defendant immediately stabbed him in the neck, continuing to slash at him for about 10 minutes before stopping.
Viewed Photos with Adoptive Parents After Killing
After the crime, the defendant cleaned the bathroom and discarded her blood-stained clothes. Later, she watched anime, listened to music, and browsed childhood photos with her adoptive parents to pass the time while preparing to turn herself in to the police later by bus. In the early morning, when she reached the void deck of the flat, she realized she could call the police with her phone. She changed her mind and called the police, waiting downstairs for them to arrive. The defendant was arrested on the morning of November 4.