Brother killer Andy Ho jailed for life

A teenager who stabbed his brother to death and injured his parents has been jailed for life.

Andy Ho was 16 when he stabbed Wing Ho, 18, as he slept at the family home in Finsbury Park, north London on the morning of 19 January 2011.

He then stabbed his mother Chi Wen in the chest, and father Zuan Ho in the shoulder, causing each serious wounds.

Ho, now 18, was found guilty of murder and two counts of wounding with intent at the Old Bailey.

He was ordered to serve a minimum term of 18 years.

The court heard that Ho played violent video games, and was on his computer until 90 minutes before he killed his brother at their home, in Hermitage Road..

Duncan Atkinson, prosecuting, said: "Some time between his computer activity coming to an end at 5.25am, and 7am, the defendant stabbed his brother as he lay in his bed, causing a deep and fatal wound to his chest and additional wounds to his arm.

"Shortly after seven o'clock that morning, the defendant's mother encountered the defendant emerging from the bathroom.

"He was wearing gloves and was holding a long kitchen knife in his right hand.

"The defendant stabbed her in the torso, causing a long wound stretching from her left breast to her right hip.

"The defendant's father woke and confronted him. He stabbed him three times in the chest and shoulder before releasing the knife."

The court was told that Ho has not spoken about what happened and may be suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.

Mr Atkinson said Ho had never provided any explanation for why he carried out the stabbings.

"Aside from a reluctance to attend school, and an uncommunicative nature, his family and friends had observed no concerning mental or other characteristics," he said.

There were indications that the crime had been planned, the court heard.

"The two knives that he used had not come from his home, but appeared to have been acquired by him in advance," Mr Atkinson said.

"In fact he used both knives in the attack, and broke both knives in the process.

"He had also acquired a pair of gloves, which he wore in the attack."

Charles Sherrard QC, defending Ho, told the court: "This is a very sad case. Nobody could have foreseen what was going to happen.

"He has been unable to come to terms with what he has done."

Judge Peter Beaumont, the Recorder of London, told Ho: "You were undoubtedly suffering from stresses in your life.

"Whatever they were, they caused you to act in a way you had never done before.

"It is very much in your interests to find it in yourself to assist the authorities with what the stresses were."