MAN WHO STABBED MOTHER AND SLIT HER THROAT FOUND GUILTY

34 year-old Sujay Solomon Sutherson, a jobless man with a history of paranoid schizophrenia, was found guilty in court today of the gruesome murder of his own mother.

3 years ago, Sujay, stabbed his mother 3 times and slit her throat with 3 different knives. During the court trial, Sujay claimed that he had acted out of self defense as his mother had grabbed his hair, scratched him and tried to take his clothes off at their Bukit Batok flat after he dismissed her request for money.

Sujay's defense was rejected by Judicial Commissioner Hoo Sheau Peng, who said that even if she accepted his claims of how his mother, Madam Jesudasan, had attacked him first, he could not claim self-defense. An accused can only plead self-defense if the assault is likely to cause death or grievous hurt.

After the first stab, Sujay knew that his mother would probably die from the wound; so when he stabbed her the second time, he could not reasonably have regarded her to be a danger, she said.

Sujay will be sentenced next month. He faces either life imprisonment with caning or up to 20 years' jail and caning or fine.

Madam Jesudasan, a divorcee, was last seen alive on 27th May 2012, by her daughter 31 year-old Sheena, who left their family flat at 6.35pm. Sujay was left alone at home with his mother.

After stabbing and killing his mother, he attempted to burn her body but failed. He later hid her body under the bed and cleaned up the flat.

When Madam Jesudasan's younger son 28 year-old Sunil returned home at about 10.40PM, he realized that his mother was not at home. When asked, Sujay said he did not know where their mother was.

After a futile search for Madam Jesudasan in the neighbourhood, Sunil, Sheena and their maternal uncle Daniel Jesudasan returned to the flat. When Mr Jesudasan checked under Sujay's bed, he saw a pair of legs.

Realizing that his mother's body had been found, Sujay demanded that his family members hand over their phones. The siblings managed to slip away and called the police, who arrested Sujay at their home.