How old is too old to stand trial?
Is it worth it to prosecute this woman? SYDNEY (AFP) – A 92-year-old has become the oldest woman committed to stand trial for murder in Australia, accused of bludgeoning and stabbing her wealthy 98-year-old husband to death, according to a report. Clara Tang, who allegedly killed Ching Yung Tang after 70 years of marriage in their Sydney apartment in March last year, has pleaded not guilty on the grounds of mental illness, the Sun-Herald said. The elderly woman appeared in a local court last week and was ordered to stand trial in the Supreme Court on a date to be fixed. Documents tendered by police reportedly detailed how the couple survived the Japanese invasion of China and Mao's Cultural Revolution before moving from Shanghai to Sydney 30 years ago. Tang, who suffers dementia, allegedly feared her husband was poisoning her food. The newspaper said that when arrested, Tang was almost totally soaked in blood. Her husband had been stabbed twice in the stomach and his head was bludgeoned. She was initially refused bail due to "the level of violence used and for the protection of the community", but police relented with Tang put under strict supervision in a nursing home ahead of her trial.
Senior Citizens - 14 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
well i wouldn't want to be stabbed
2 :
too old to stand years old
3 :
An eye for an eye.
4 :
For violent crimes, never too old.
5 :
Hey Spike, Looks like you just cut and pasted an article into the details. But, referring to your initial question in the heading, I'd have to say your article more or less gives the answer. There really is not such a thing as being too old to stand trial. The accused can, however, avoid standing trial if their health is so poor it would be damaging to them. In that case, there would still be a "trial" but in absence of the accused who would more than likely be interviewed on video. -Jeeem-
6 :
How very sad. If the woman truly suffered with dementia, I hardly see the point. She may not be fully aware of what she did.
7 :
There is a 73-year old woman here in Oklahoma who is being prosecuted for selling her prescription drugs & having a firearm after a previous felony conviction. She is on oxygen and the article in NewsOk.com said she would likely die in prison if convicted. No telling about that woman who killed her husband, at her age she could very have dementia or if prescribed certain medications, could have become violent because of the side effects.
8 :
If she isn't too old to stab and bludgeon her husband to death...she's not too old to stand trial. The circumstances are unfortunate because it's obvious that she isn't mentally competent...but what are the courts supposed to do? They certainly can't just let it slide. I'd hate to be the presiding judge on this one.
9 :
Dementia should not be an excuse for a violent murder. She should be tried and convicted.
10 :
I'm sure she would be ruled as unable to stand trial, not because of her age, but because of her state of mind. Nobody is going to imprison a person with dementia. She'll be put in a nursing home.
11 :
again i dont wanna read all that i did see it on yahoo page this am when i first turned on the computer spike and i said to GOD why dont you type a 92 yr old woman is sitting in her rocking chair knitting and sipping on tea then thats what she would be doing .... i am no fool ...mr spike.. its the typing........ i studied newspaper journalism many years ago and im a very quick study.... answer JESUS HAVE MERCY ON US ALL... I hate this world....... GOD shoulda never created this world period.....dont bother trying to argue with me ....
12 :
She go to prison for 30 years!
13 :
There is no age limit.Was her husband too old to be murdered?
14 :
Having lived with an elderly father with dementia and psychotic breaks, I know what they are capable of. She should have been on meds that would have controlled this behaviour to begin with! However, hindsight is 20/20... I don't think the taxpayer's money should be wasted in bringing this woman to trial. She should, after full psychiatric testing, be committed to the psych ward of some high security nursing home and allowed to die in peace there.
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