HONG KONG: Two psychiatrists have testified that Nina Wang could have been suffering from delirium when she signed the 2006 document that fung shui practitioner Tony Chan claims bequeathed him her fortune.

The two physicians were giving evidence in the Court of First Instance on the 34th day of the probate trial that will determine who will inherit Wang's fortune.

The psychiatrists offered differing opinions however about the degree of disability Wang's mental state may have caused.

Testifying on behalf of Chinachem Charitable Foundation yesterday, psychiatrist Peter Jones said he had observed an abnormal mental state in Wang around October 16, 2006, the date Chan's document was signed.

The doctor said he took into account different symptoms when diagnosing mental disorder. He noted Wang often felt sleepy during the day, a characteristic of people suffering from delirium. He also noted Wang was emotionally unstable, crying and laughing intermittently.

Jones said: "When I take into account the whole picture, the most likely explanation is delirium."

Counsel for Chan, Ian Mill, said: "Even if Wang had episodes of delirium, she was in the throes of lucid intervals on October 16, 2006, as she was able to have conversations with her secretary that day."

Jones said: "It is possible for people with abnormal mental state to take part in conversations like that." Jones said that there is not enough evidence to show that Wang was capable of making reasonable decisions in October 2006.

Testifying on behalf of Chan, British psychiatrist Robin Jacoby told the court that Wang most likely did not suffer from episodes of delirium, although he could not exclude that possibility. "I accept that some descriptions of Mrs Wang's behavior are consistent with delirium. But more likely than not, Mrs Wang was simply tired due to her illness," Jacoby said.

Jacoby said that Wang suffered from minor deficiencies of potassium and calcium and that they were unlikely to have any effect on her mental state.

He maintained that delirium is a disorder that ranges from extremely mild to severe. Thus even if it were true that Wang was affected by delirium, she still could have possessed the capacity to execute her will.

Counsel for Chinachem Dennis Chang pointed out according to Kung Yun-sum's testimony, Wang suffered a memory lapse on September 23, 2006, when she denied ever having lived at L'Hotel, when she was resident there at the time. Memory lapses are a symptom of delirium. In addition, Wang's friend and medical advisor Ho Wai-tak told the court earlier Wang felt like "dark forces" were pursuing her.

Jacoby replied Wang could have been feeling stress resulting from the kidnapping of her husband many years ago. The psychiatrist said, however, that he could not exclude the possibility of delirium.

A specialist in respiratory medicine will take the stand today.

(HK Edition 07/07/2009 page1)