Jailed for death threats, attacking wife

A 48-year-old man punched and attacked his wife with a knife after she had told him not to make too much noise with his drinking pals at the couple's HDB flat.

Seven months later, while out on bail, he threatened to kill her and their 12-year-old daughter.

On Monday, the lorry driver, who cannot be named to protect his daughter's identity, was jailed for 14 months on charges of assault, causing hurt with a weapon and criminal intimidation.

The court heard that the accused had returned to his home at Hougang Avenue 3 on Feb 11 this year with three friends and started drinking.

As they were getting rowdy, the accused's wife, a 48-year-old part-time factory worker, told him to keep the noise level down.

Angered by the comment, he shouted at her and pulled her aside,then punched her on the head and back.

He also took a kitchen knife and waved it at her.

When she pushed him away, he cut her on her right shoulder.

Later, when she tried to leave for work, he threatened her again with the knife.

On Sept 14, he had an argument with his wife, who ignored him and went to the toilet.

When she emerged from the toilet, the accused, who was holding a knife in his hand, told the victim that he wanted to kill her. She challenged him to do so and he put the knife in the kitchen sink instead.

The accused also told his daughter to close all the windows in the flat. He then said to her and her mother that he would leak gas from the kitchen and let the place explode.

The daughter refused to do so and called the police.

On the most serious charge of issuing the death threat against his wife, he could have been jailed for up to seven years or more.

elena@sph.com.sg

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