A 51-YEAR-OLD driver who suspected that his wife of 21 years was having an affair, stabbed her repeatedly after she rebuffed him when he woke her early one morning to talk about their “marital dispute”.
After killing Faridah Senin, 41, the mother of his three children, Rosdi Joenet cried over the phone as he called the police.
Yesterday, he was jailed nine years after he pleaded guilty to a charge of culpable homicide for killing his wife on Nov 17, 2012, at their Jurong West flat.
She suffered 18 knife wounds, of which two to her chest were fatal.
Rosdi was diagnosed to be suffering from a delusional disorder of the jealous subtype, which impaired his mental responsibility for his actions.
Defence lawyer Abraham Vergis said Rosdi was a loving husband until he began having delusions, months before the stabbing, that his wife was unfaithful.
He suspected that she was seeing a man who drove a BMW. He tried to get his daughter to spy on her and constantly checked with his wife’s co-workers on her whereabouts. He even booked a marital counselling session.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Wong Kok Weng told the court that Madam Faridah denied having an affair. But their relationship soured – she slept with her mother in a room while he took the study.
At about 5am on Nov 17, 2012, Rosdi woke up and found that his mother-in-law, Siti Khatijah Md Bederan, was in the kitchen.
He went to wake his wife up to discuss their problems but was chased out with angry words. He returned, with a kitchen knife that had a 20cm-long blade, and locked the door.
Hearing her daughter’s screams, Madam Siti asked him to open the door but Rosdi told her he was in a “discussion” with Madam Faridah, who was begging him not to kill her.
He later emerged, saying he had “reasons” for killing his wife.
By then, his two sons and daughter had been woken up by the screaming.
Madam Siti called the police. Rosdi also called the police, saying: “Murder. I am the husband. My wife. I am unable to say anything now.”
Noting that Rosdi still harbours delusions about his wife, the DPP sought eight to 10 years’ jail to ensure that he is fully treated.
Mr Vergis asked for six years, arguing that Rosdi is not a threat as the object of his delusions has died.
Judicial Commissioner Foo Chee Hock disagreed, noting that Rosdi’s “vicious and violent” attack showed that the effect of his delusions was “devastating” when triggered.
selinal@sph.com.sg
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