43-year-old woman convicted of murdering partner in stabbing at Ang Mo Kio flat

The High Court of Singapore has convicted 43-year-old Nguyen Ngoc Giau of murder under section 300(c) of the Penal Code for fatally stabbing her partner, 51-year-old Cho Wang Keung, on 15 July 2021.

In a judgment released on 7 October 2025, Justice Dedar Singh Gill found that the accused had intended to inflict the stab wounds which ultimately caused the deceased's death.

Nguyen, a Vietnamese national and Singapore permanent resident, was living with Cho in his flat at Block 562, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3. Their relationship, described as tumultuous and marked by frequent quarrels, deteriorated further in the days leading up to the incident after Nguyen suspected Cho of infidelity involving a female beer promoter.

On the night of the stabbing, after consuming approximately ten cans of beer, Nguyen confronted Cho outside their flat. According to witness Tan Cheng Mun and police reports, she later retrieved a sharp yellow-handled knife from the kitchen and used it to stab Cho multiple times. She then chased Tan briefly before turning the weapon on herself.

When emergency services arrived, both Nguyen and Cho were found in a pool of blood. Cho succumbed to his injuries later that morning. An autopsy revealed he had suffered 30 external injuries, with fatal wounds to the neck, chest, and back.

During the trial, Nguyen admitted in multiple police statements that she stabbed Cho. However, her defence argued that she was intoxicated to the point of lacking the intent necessary to commit murder and claimed that the incident arose out of a sudden fight.

The court rejected these claims.

Justice Gill concluded that Nguyen’s detailed police statements, in which she consistently admitted to stabbing Cho, were credible. The accused’s attempts to cast doubt on the accuracy of the interpretation process, the conduct of the investigating officer, and the reliability of her own statements were found to be unconvincing and unsupported by evidence.

The Court gave particular weight to her repeated admissions, noting they were consistent with other evidence including witness testimony and photographic evidence taken by Tan Cheng Mun. The Judge also found no support for the defence’s suggestion that her statements stemmed from “false memories” due to alcohol-induced blackouts.

Nguyen’s assertion that she could not recall the events was undermined by the level of detail in her statements. For instance, she recalled selecting the specific knife for its sharpness, pulling Cho during the attack, and the areas where she stabbed him. Additionally, she was able to sketch the scene of the incident and describe her actions with coherence.

The court also found that Nguyen had clear motive and intent. She had been angered by Cho’s relationship with the beer promoter and his alliance with Tan Cheng Mun. Her text messages and voice recordings in the lead-up to the incident revealed growing frustration and emotional distress.

The Judge dismissed the intoxication defence, ruling that while she was likely under the influence of alcohol, her actions showed rationality and purpose, including her decision to arm herself and target Cho specifically.

The partial defence of sudden fight was also rejected. The court found no evidence of a mutual physical altercation. Instead, it was Nguyen who initiated the violence after an argument, without any physical provocation from Cho.

Justice Gill concluded that all elements of murder under section 300(c) were met: the act was done by the accused, she intended the bodily injuries inflicted, and the injuries were sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause death.

Sentencing was not finalised at the time of judgment. The court will hear submissions on sentencing before issuing its decision. A conviction under section 300(c) of the Penal Code carries the mandatory penalty of death or life imprisonment with caning, under section 302(2) of the same Code.