Single mother in Hong Kong spared jail over ‘unfortunate’ abuse of son, 8, as court sentences her to probation, mental health treatment

A single mother in Hong Kong was spared jail on Friday for abusing her eight-year-old son, including hanging him upside down and jabbing his hands with a needle, in what a court described as an “unfortunate” case of child cruelty.

The West Kowloon Court sentenced the 45-year-old woman to probation for 1½ years, noting that she required treatment for her mental illness rather than punishment.