Hong Kong father suspected of murdering his 2 children has depression: court

A Hong Kong father who allegedly killed his two young children before a failed suicide attempt last month is suffering from depression, a court has heard.

Salesman Chen Guocheng, 40, appeared in Kowloon City Court for the first time on Friday to face two counts of murder, as prosecutors asked for a 12-week adjournment for police to conduct further inquiries.

A psychiatric report issued by Queen Elizabeth Hospital found Chen to be suicidal but fit to attend hearings, the court heard.

Deputy Magistrate Polly Chuang Po-yi adjourned the case until late November and ordered that the report be submitted to the correctional services department for consideration.

The salesman, who was remanded in custody, can apply for bail before a High Court judge.

The tragedy came to light on August 27 after Chen’s eight-year-old son, Chen Ka-nok, skipped a tuition class without explanation. The boy’s mother alerted police after receiving a call from the tuition centre asking about his whereabouts.