Coroner data open verdict in case of 80-year-old man with dementia discovered lifeless in drain

SINGAPORE: A coroner on Friday (Nov 4) recorded an open verdict within the case of an 80-year-old man who was discovered lifeless in a drain two days after going lacking. 

Mr William Leck Swe Chua was affected by “very pronounced” dementia on the time however his physique was so badly decomposed {that a} reason for dying couldn’t be ascertained, the court docket heard.

State Coroner Adam Nakhoda stated Mr Leck lived along with his companion, Madam Yap, for greater than 10 years. 

He was recognized with dementia in 2020 and his situation grew progressively worse. By December 2021, he may recall solely occasions previously and had no recollection of more moderen occasions.

His short-term reminiscence had deteriorated significantly and solely his long-term reminiscence was intact, the court docket heard.

In response to Mdm Yap, they didn’t have any private points they usually recurrently communicated with one another. He additionally didn’t have any monetary points or medical points aside from the dementia, Mdm Yap stated.

Mr Leck had gone lacking twice earlier than, however returned house every time on his personal.

On Jan 1 this yr, after Mdm Yap left for work at about 5am, Mr Leck left the flat.

When Mdm Yap returned house at about 2.50pm, she realised that Mr Leck was not within the flat and tried to name his cellphone a number of instances.

She managed to get by way of to him and he stated he was at a close-by temple. Nonetheless, when she went there, she couldn’t discover him.

She contacted him once more, and he stated he was at a site visitors mild junction however was unable to provide extra particulars.

She known as him once more later and Mr Leck picked up the cellphone however didn’t say something. She heard solely background noises.

The coroner stated he discovered that Mr Leck’s responses on the cellphone demonstrated that he was doubtless disoriented.

He then made his approach to a carpark at Defu Lane and was proven in closed-circuit tv digicam footage partaking in odd behaviour.

He was proven strolling out and in of the automotive park six instances that afternoon, washing his fingers in a puddle on some events.

He entered the automotive park a seventh time at 4.28pm and was not proven leaving thereafter.

Mdm Yap later observed that she had obtained a missed name from Mr Leck at about 6.15pm. She tried to return his name, however he didn’t reply.

That night, Mr Leck ended up in an open drain close to the automotive park. Heavy rain and showers have been reported within the space at across the similar time.

“It can’t be defined why Mr Leck had eliminated his Bermuda shorts, cell phone and pockets and positioned them by the aspect of the open drain, nor how he got here to be within the open drain,” stated the coroner.

He added that it will be “pure hypothesis” to attempt to fathom the rationale.

Nonetheless, he stated that Mr Leck was in all probability within the drain by the point heavy rain and showers have been reported within the space.

The pressure of the water flowing by way of the drain carried his physique and wedged it towards a steel grate, the place he was subsequently discovered.

Mr Leck’s physique was discovered within the drain on Jan 3 this yr.

An post-mortem discovered no indicators of exterior or inside trauma however the reason for dying couldn’t be established as a result of state of decomposition.

The police discovered no suggestion of foul play.

Mdm Yap stated she didn’t know why Mr Leck went to Defu Lane that day.

Mr Leck’s niece recalled that one in every of his outdated pals talked about throughout Mr Leck’s funeral that when Mr Leck was youthful, he labored at a funeral parlour.

He would usually hang around on the automotive park in query at Defu Lane along with his colleague.

Mr Leck’s niece thought that he had gone there as a result of these recollections.

The coroner prolonged his condolences to Mr Leck’s next-of-kin for his or her loss.