HKU Professor Jailed For Life For Murdering Wife

University of Hong Kong professor Cheung Kie-chung was on Thursday sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering his wife and preventing her lawful burial two years ago.

The 56-year-old appeared calm when he heard his sentence, gesturing towards several friends before being escorted away from the courtroom.

A seven-member High Court jury last week convicted Cheung of the murder of Chan Man-wai in August 2018.

The former associate professor of mechanical engineering was arrested when his wife's body was found inside a suitcase – hidden in a sealed wooden box – in his office.

She was strangled in the bedroom of their home before her body was taken to the office.

In handing down the sentence, Judge Anthea Pang said even though many have described Cheung as a “gentle and caring” person, he had cold-bloodedly killed his wife whom he was married to for over 30 years.

She called the case a tragedy for him, the deceased and their family.

Cheung had previously pleaded not guilty to murder but admitted manslaughter, with his lawyers arguing that he had been suffering from depression and had only strangled his wife with power cords after being provoked by her.

Cheung also received a 28-month jail sentence for preventing a lawful burial by hiding his wife's corpse in the wooden box.