{
  "id": 3881971,
  "title": "Mentally unsound man, 90, who killed wife given notional 5-year jail term",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/mentally-unsound-man-90-who-killed-wife-given-notional-5-year-jail",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-28T03:41:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Channel News Asia",
    "slug": "channel-news-asia",
    "url": "https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/mentally-unsound-man-killed-wife-notional-imprisonment-5-years-high-court-6346731"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A 90-year-old man, Ridawi Morsudin, who killed his 74-year-old wife in a violent attack while suffering from dementia, has been given a notional five-year jail term by the High Court in Singapore. Justice Hoo Sheau Peng considered medical reports which stated Ridawi remains unfit to stand trial or plead guilty due to the severity of his brain condition. He is incapable of making his defence and is unlikely to ever regain that capability. The court also noted Ridawi's low risk of reoffending due to his extensive need for daily living care. Despite the prosecution's suggestion of a six to nine-year term, the court found it inappropriate to reduce the notional period to two to three years, as Ridawi had been capable of killing his wife in a forceful and brutal manner at the age of 88. The case is the first of its kind since amendments to Singapore's unsoundness-of-mind regime in February 2025, which require courts to specify the notional imprisonment period an accused would have faced if convicted. Ridawi remains remanded at the Complex Medical Centre in Changi Prison Complex pending the minister's decision on his confinement or conditional release.",
  "summary": "In coming to her decision, the High Court judge said she considered medical reports stating that Ridawi remains unfit to stand trial or plead guilty.",
  "key_points": [
    "90-year-old Ridawi Morsudin killed wife in dementia attack",
    "High Court gave notional 5-year jail term, not 6-9 years",
    "Court deemed him unfit to stand trial or plead due to brain condition"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "CNA - Singapore",
        "title": "Mentally unsound man, 90, who killed wife given notional 5-year jail term",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/mentally-unsound-man-90-who-killed-wife-given-notional-5-year-jail-3883091",
        "published": "2026-08-28T03:41:32.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}