HONG KONG: A 27-year-old woman, Leung Sin-ting has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and causing severe bodily harm, in connection with her attack on a pregnant woman and the subsequent death of the victim's baby.

Evidence presented at Leung's trial showed she attacked the woman and tried to steal the fetus from the woman, whom she had met at a discussion forum at www.baby-kingdom.com last year.

In a deliberate act of deception, Leung gained entrance to the woman's home in Fanling by telling her she wanted to give the victim some products for her baby.

Inside the home, Leung said she felt unwell, and asked for help from the victim. The attacker then choked her victim by wrapping an electrical cord around the woman's neck, before stabbing her with a knife in a failed attempted to remove the fetus.

Leung's husband discovered his wife injured and in distress when he returned home and called police.

The woman was admitted to hospital, where doctor performed an operation to remove the baby. The infant lapsed into a coma and died in March.

Leung claimed the victim had inflicted the injuries on herself. Later she confessed that she was jealous of her victim's pregnancy and wanted to see the baby. She claimed she felt distress after suffering a miscarriage.

Police also found that Leung had arranged to meet two other pregnant women. But those women were in the company of family members when the meeting occurred and they did not suffer any injuries.

Leung was ordered held in custody pending psychiatric and psychological assessment. She will be sentenced on October 27.

Police urged community members to be cautious when meeting strangers through the Internet, adding that personal particulars should not be disclosed.

Chinese University of Hong Kong psychiatry professor Lee Sing said strong desire for pregnancy may set off psychological and physical changes.

China Daily

(HK Edition 09/11/2009 page1)