Grandmother's Mental State In Focus After Boy Dies

Police investigating the death of a six-year-old boy in a Wan Chai guesthouse on the weekend say detectives are looking into the mental state of his grandmother, who's being held on suspicion of murder .

Police arrived at the room in the Beverly Hotel on Lockhart Road early on Sunday morning and found the boy unconscious, showing signs that he’d been strangled the night before.

The boy was certified dead at hospital, and the 52 year old grandmother was arrested.

Detective chief inspector Wan Kai-ming says they're unsure of the cause of death, but officers found a 68-centimetre-long shoulder strap that had been cut from a bag.

He also added that there are no records suggesting that the boy suffered from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, despite earlier reports that he did.

Police said the boy lived in Ma On Shan with his mother who – along with the boy’s grandmother - took turns caring for the boy.

They said they’re investigating why the grandmother took the victim to visit Hong Kong Island on Saturday.

A post-mortem is being carried out.

Last updated: 2018-03-18 HKT 21:10