Police arrest a woman suspected of being behind the deaths of her three daughters, aged 2 to 5, in Sham Shui Po on June 5, 2023. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

The case of a 29-year-old woman alleged to have murdered her three young daughters at their home in Sham Shui Po has been postponed to June 12 or an earlier date after she missed Wednesday’s court hearing, claiming to be unwell.

Following an application by the prosecution, the court adjourned the case to June 12. The defendant will remain in police custody and may appear in court at an earlier date if she’s proved to be medically fit

The defendant, who faces three counts of murder, was to have appeared in Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts for mention. The woman claimed to be ill on Tuesday and was admitted to Caritas Medical Centre in Sham Shui Po, accompanied by law enforcement officers. She was later transferred to Castle Peak Hospital.

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Following an application by the prosecution, the court adjourned the case to June 12. The defendant will remain in police custody and may appear in court at an earlier date if she’s proved to be medically fit.

The woman was arrested on Monday after her three daughters -- aged five, four and two -- were found unresponsive in their sub-divided flat on Kweilin Street. The three children were confirmed dead in hospital.

Police believe the suspect might have smothered her three daughters with a pillow as small traces of blood were found on a pillow in the flat, and in the mouth and nose of one of the victims.

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The police said there’s no medical record of the defendant being mentally ill, and she was in a stable mental condition when arrested.

There’s also no evidence suggesting that the three children had had a bad relationship with their mother. It was initially thought the defendant and her husband had been involved in family disputes, according to the police. But, officers did not rule out that a third party was involved in their relationship, or that the mother did not want others to take care of her children.