[Apparelyzed]

Wife killed quadriplegic for STD caught from prostitute

AN elderly woman who killed her estranged quadriplegic husband was humiliated by him visiting prostitutes and infecting her with syphilis, a Sydney judge has been told.

Grace Soon, 70, has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Stephen Chin, 63, by setting fire to his home at Daceyville, in Sydney's south-east, in September 2006.

Peter Hamill SC, for Soon, today also referred to the "bizarre circumstances" of the former church minister becoming a quadriplegic - during a 1999 fall in a "sex orgy" with a transsexual.

While noting some of the background was "extremely distasteful", Justice Michael Grove said it occurred some time ago and the couple had not lived together for seven years.

He said Soon had torched the home of her estranged husband, knowing he was a quadriplegic.

"That was an extremely evil act," the judge said in the NSW Supreme Court during sentencing submissions.

Psychiatrists agreed she was suffering from a major depressive disorder at the time.

Soon told police she set the fire because Mr Chin "was coming after her property", as he had retained lawyers to seek a divorce settlement many years after their separation.

But Mr Hamill said her "exceptional and compelling" personal history provided insight into the circumstances that led to the killing of Mr Chin, who led "a double life".

He referred to Soon's "shame and humiliation" after discovering her husband had infected her with venereal disease after he visited prostitutes.

The couple's son, Eugene Chin, told the judge his parents continued to live together after this, but their relationship was over.

At one stage, Eugene Chin said he became aware of his father having a relationship with a transsexual and he recalled his mother confronting them when she saw them together in a car.

After his father's 1999 accident - which Eugene Chin later discovered happened during a fall in "a sex orgy" - his father did not live with his mother again.

When his mother received a letter about the proposed property settlement, Eugene Chin said he told her: "if you divorced him instead of hiding and thinking it would go away, we would not be in this position."

At one stage his mother said: "what if I burnt your father and killed myself," but Eugene Chin said he did not think it was a serious threat.

Mr Hamill told the judge Soon's cultural and religious background meant she did not discuss her problems with people, not wanting "to lose face".

Because of the "wholly extraordinary circumstances" of the case, he contended her sentence should ensure she was released soon, after having been in custody for 20 months.

Wendy Robinson SC, for the Crown, said Mr Chin's vulnerability was "extreme".

She also noted the fire was substantially planned as Soon bought petrol and made inquiries about when Mr Chin's carers were at his home.

She will be sentenced on June 20.

[qbounce]

Old habits die hard, I guess!!

[knowthill]

At first reading I thought this was a hoax. I found myself laughing and calling my wife over to read your article. She didn’t see any humor and said she would had killed the bastard too. I couldn’t figure out how he found the prostitutes in the wheel chair.

Oh well not sure what to say. The act she did is very bad. Hope she finds help.

[Emily C]

WOW!!!
I'm just laying here, shocked. I understand her anger, but was it REALLY worth prison? Shesh, she could take meds and get better..this would be callled a "crime of passion" here in the states.

[nomis]

Now that is some outrageous reverend who came to a firey end.

[InconJenOnWheels]

Holy crap!! Bizarre. The only question I have is 'Was it worth it?".

[milosh]

it has not much to do with him being a quad, but more with the old chap's ''member'' being adventurous. ;)

[E-DOG]

Now THAT'S a hot topic!
Bravo to the old man for finding himself a girlfriend, or was it a boyfriend? Maybe it was a boilfriend? or a goyfriend?
Whatever. At the moment he's one up on me dadgumit!
E