SINGAPORE, July 25 — A rent dispute between a woman and her long-term boyfriend ended with her stabbing him in the chest at their condominium unit, The Straits Times reported.

According to the news report, Li Ye, 40, was sentenced to 12 years’ jail on July 24 after pleading guilty to a reduced charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder for killing Lim Lai Guan, 56, at Citygate Residences in Beach Road.

The Chinese national had returned home from work on May 8, 2024 and saw Lim lying on their loft bed using his phone, which upset her as she was angry over his failure to contribute to the rent.

She grabbed a knife from the kitchen counter during the argument and stabbed Lim once in the chest.

Li had been in a relationship with Lim for nearly four years after they met in September 2019, when she was working as a performance artiste manager at a nightclub he frequented.

They began dating in July 2020 and moved into the condominium unit with Li’s son from a previous marriage in June 2021.

Lim had assured Li he could continue paying the S$3,200 (RM10,142) monthly rent and support her family through his forex trading earnings, but he later suffered losses and began borrowing money from friends.

Li eventually started paying part of the rent and later covered the full amount after the couple’s finances deteriorated.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Grace Chua said the killing was a case of domestic violence against Li’s partner, despite Lim’s financial problems and past hurtful behaviour.

Chua added that Li had initiated and escalated the confrontation while Lim, who was unarmed, tried to move away from her.

Defence lawyer Rayner Gooi said Li did not challenge the prosecution’s sentencing submission as she did not want to appear unrepentant.

He said she had tried to help Lim after the stabbing, did not conceal evidence and remained at the scene until police arrived.

An autopsy found the stab wound had penetrated Lim’s aorta, and he was pronounced dead at Tan Tock Seng Hospital at 2.30am.

In a letter submitted to the court, Li apologised to Lim’s family and said she would not be able to watch her children grow up.