A Singaporean man who was originally charged with murder over the death of a cyclist in Perth has pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of manslaughter.
Ng Jing Kai, now 29, entered the guilty plea in August in the Supreme Court of Western Australia, according to documents seen by The Straits Times.
The Supreme Court’s latest criminal case inventory, with data current as of 5 September 2026, also records Ng’s plea as guilty to one count of manslaughter. It lists his sentencing for 3 November.
Cyclist Was Dragged For More Than 30m
The case stems from an incident on 24 May 2024 in Carlisle, a suburb of Perth.
At about 1.45pm, Ng was driving a grey Kia Carnival on Lion Street when he approached a 48-year-old cyclist.
Western Australia Police said at the time that the cyclist was struck by the vehicle and dragged underneath it. Detective Inspector David Gorton said preliminary investigations indicated the cyclist may have been dragged for more than 30m.
The cyclist was taken to Royal Perth Hospital in critical condition, where he later died.
Police arrested Ng shortly afterwards and initially charged him with murder. Police said at the time that they would allege the collision had been deliberate.
Ng has remained in custody in Australia since his arrest in May 2024, according to ST.
Police Had Investigated Possible Property Dispute
When the case first emerged, WA Police said investigators were looking into a possible dispute involving personal property.
Detective Inspector Gorton said investigators believed there had been an incident involving the two parties on the previous day and that a personal property item may have been involved. Police said the two men were not believed to have known each other before the events leading up to the incident.
Several other people were inside Ng’s vehicle at the time. Police described them as his family and friends and said they had been interviewed as witnesses.
ST reported that Ng had been in Perth on holiday with family and friends when the incident happened.
Manslaughter Can Carry Life Imprisonment In Western Australia
Under Section 280 of Western Australia’s Criminal Code, manslaughter applies when someone unlawfully kills another person in circumstances that do not constitute murder.
The offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. That is the maximum sentence available under the law, rather than an automatic sentence for every manslaughter conviction.
Ng’s actual sentence will be decided by the Supreme Court of Western Australia on 3 November.
