Man jailed for murdering wife of 28 years in Newcastle hotel
A man who suffocated his wife of 28 years with a hotel pillow has been jailed for at least 12 and a half years. Soong Hert Fong, 51, killed Pek Ying Ling at the County Aparthotel in Newcastle on 6 December.
(BBC) A man who suffocated his wife of 28 years with a hotel pillow has been jailed for at least 12 and a half years.
Soong Hert Fong, 51, killed Pek Ying Ling at the County Aparthotel in Newcastle on 6 December. The couple from Singapore were on holiday when Fong killed his 51-year-old wife, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
He was sentenced to life with a minimum term after admitting murder partway through a trial.
The couple were touring Europe and had been visiting Newcastle to see one of their sons who was studying at university in the city. Fong told the court he "just lost it" when he pinned his wife to the bed and forced a pillow over her face just hours before they were due to fly to Paris.
He had required hospital treatment after several falls during their trip and had been unhappy with his wife's comments that he was not taking care of himself.
Prosecutors alleged he killed her "to stop her scolding him or nagging him or to keep her quiet". The trial heard Fong was a "loving and devoted husband" with no history of domestic abuse.
While holidaying on the Isle of Skye he suffered a "significant fall" which left him with ongoing medical issues.
He collapsed three times in the Newcastle hotel room and was taken to hospital before being discharged with "ongoing muscular pain".