Parents jailed over fatal abuse of 8-month-old son

A couple who regularly abused their child after he was born, resulting in his death at the age of eight months, was sentenced to jail on Wednesday.



Singaporeans Chloe Gan Ci Xuan, 23, and Neo Jia Ming, 27, were sentenced respectively to 15 years and three months' jail and 16 years' jail for various charges over the death of their son, Trevor Neo Yu Hin.



In sentencing, Justice Hoo Sheau Peng said Trevor spent nearly the entirety of his short life enduring abuse from his parents.



The couple reportedly "made light" of their physical abuse of Trevor and the potential detrimental consequences.



While Neo had contended that Gan was the one who committed the fatal acts, and his overall culpability was far lower than hers, Justice Hoo said it was not a given that one who allows the death of a child is far less culpable than one who causes it.



Gan pleaded guilty to three charges comprising causing the death of a child, ill-treating a child and permitting such ill-treatment. Neo pleaded guilty to four charges: allowing the death of a child, ill-treating a child, permitting Gan's ill-treatment of Trevor and domestic abuse of his wife.