A 62-year-old local woman has been arrested after her husband died of a heart condition following a physical dispute over money at their home in Coloane, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Cheong Siu Keong said during a special press conference on Saturday.
Cheong identified the suspect, surnamed Che, as a local retiree.
According to Cheong, the Judiciary Police received a notification from Conde S. Januário Hospital Centre at about 5:00 a.m. on Friday after an elderly local man was rushed to the emergency department from his home on Avenida de Vale das Borboletas (蝴蝶谷大馬路) in Seac Pai Van. He was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
An initial medical examination revealed that the man arrived without a heartbeat or respiration and bore no fewer than seven superficial, non-fatal wounds across his left chest, left hand, and lower limbs, as well as minor contusions. Forensic findings indicated that the wounds alone were not fatal, and police noted strong indications that the physical altercation triggered an underlying heart condition, causing his death.
Cheong said the couple had been married for over 20 years and had an adult daughter, with the three living together in the flat where the incident occurred. They reportedly had a history of arguing over money, though no prior domestic violence reports were on record.
At around 4:30 a.m. on Friday, Che returned home after going out for entertainment and confronted her husband over 10,000 patacas in household expenses and personal debts incurred over the years. The verbal argument escalated into a physical fight in the living room, Cheong added.
During the conflict, the husband attacked Che with a fitness bar, causing minor contusions to her left thumb and little finger. Che then went to the kitchen, picked up two cleavers with blades over 10 cm long each, and struck back. During the struggle, her husband suddenly felt unwell and collapsed, prompting Che to call emergency services, Cheong said.
According to Cheong, PJ officers subsequently conducted a crime scene investigation at the flat, where they found evidence that the living room had been partially cleaned, alongside small traces of blood. The Judiciary Police seized the fitness bar from a sofa and the two cleavers from the kitchen. Che was detained at the scene.
The Judiciary Police reiterated a zero-tolerance policy towards domestic violence, appealing to family members to communicate rationally when resolving disputes rather than resorting to physical aggression.
Che faces charges of bodily harm resulting in death and possession of prohibited weapons. Each of the charges carries a maximum penalty of up to eight years in prison.
The case has been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) for further investigation.
This undated handout photo provided by the Judiciary Police (PJ) on Saturday shows the two cleavers and a fitness bar seized from the couple’s flat.
