AN INSULT cost the life of a patient of the Institute of Mental Health.

The death of 41-year-old Chow Wai Mun three years ago was ruled by the coroner's court on Monday to be culpable homicide not amounting to murder by a fellow patient.

Teo Kok Meng, 28, admitted to a psychiatrist that he had attacked Mr Chow following an obscene insult by the older man. Both inmates suffer from schizophrenia. Mr Chow had been in IMH since 1988 and Teo since 2001.

Investigations revealed that at about 8pm on June 20, 2006, they were doing chores at Block 4 when they started quarrelling.

An IMH health attendant saw Teo push Mr Chow who fell backwards. After punching and kicking the fallen man several times, Teo threw a wooden coffee table at Mr Chow. The table landed on Mr Chow's head causing the skull to fracture.

Mr Chow died three days later in the National University Hospital.

Senior Station Inspector Zainal Abidin testified that his investigations indicated that Teo had flung the table in the general direction of Mr Chow and had not aimed at his opponent's head.

Teo's mental state has worsened and he remains confined in IMH. A psychiatrist determined on March 16 that he was incapable of following court proceedings

According to the law, the Law Minister has the discretion to order Teo to be confined in a mental hospital or some other place of safe custody.

The psychiatrist has to visit Teo at least once in every six months to report on his mental state. If Teo is eventually found fit to stand trial, he will be brought to court again for the case to resume.