A Hawaiian man who killed his mother and stored the dismembered corpse in a freezer was sentenced to 30 years in prison Monday, The Associated Press reported.
Police found the remains of Yu Wei Gong's mother, Liu Yun Gong, at the pair's Honolulu apartment back in April 2017, local station KHON2 previously reported. Gong, 28, told police he killed his mother some seven months before in the midst of a disagreement.
Read more: Couple charged with murder after dismembered remains of woman identified
A search of the property revealed various body parts—including two arms and a head—in trash bags stuffed into the freezer, AP reported. A medical examination revealed Gong's mother died after a blow to the head, KHON2 stated.
Court documents revealed Gong—who was subsequently charged with second-degree murder—had called police after a suicide attempt. He eventually pleaded guilty to manslaughter in September 2018 after striking a deal with prosecutors, KHON2 reported.
"The specifics of the agreement, I can't disclose that. I can tell you the family was consulted," prosecutor Wayne Tashima told KHON2 in September. "Everybody is satisfied with the result."
Gong received a 20-year sentence for manslaughter, a 10-year sentence for identity theft, and one year for the abuse of a corpse. The longer sentences will be served separately, but the shorter sentence will be served concurrently.
He was charged with identity theft back in September, after allegedly paying rent from his mother's bank account.
Court documents showed Gong had fought with his mother over whether he should attend school or find work, KHON2 reported. He had claimed her death was an accident.
Under the prosecution deal, Gong admitted killing his mother "under the influence of extreme mental and emotional disturbance."
"I am ashamed for what I did," Gong said during Monday's sentencing, according to AP. "I'm sorry, mom."
"I want to make clear that he did love his mother and she was a very good mother," added Darcia Forester, his public defender. "Under no circumstances did she deserve what happened."
In other Hawaii news, Democratic Senator Mazie Hirono recently promised to give the wages she's earned during the ongoing government shutdown to local food banks.
Hirono blasted Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard Wednesday after she wrote an op-ed criticizing Democrats who have "weaponized religion for their own selfish gain."
Gabbard announced she was joining the 2020 presidential race Friday.
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