Lawyer for man charged with slashing Ming Pao chief says mainland cops forced him to confess
JULIE CHUjulie.chu@scmp.com
PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 28 July, 2015, 3:38am
UPDATED : Tuesday, 28 July, 2015, 3:38am
Kevin Lau was slashed on his back and legs. Photo: Sam Tsang
Two men who allegedly slashed former Ming Pao chief editor Kevin Lau Chun-to last year were beaten up and forced to confess to the attack while they were detained on the mainland, the High Court heard yesterday.
Barrister Kevin Egan, representing defendant Yip Kim-wah, told the court that Yip and co-defendant Wong Chi-wah, both 38, were made to repeat the forced confessions they had given the Public Security Bureau after they were returned to the city.
Egan said police in Hong Kong threatened to send his client back to the mainland for trial, where he could face execution.
The defence lawyer made the claims as he cross-examined senior police constable Wong Wai-kay, who conducted an interview with Yip after officers escorted the pair back to Hong Kong on March 17 last year.
Yip and Wong Chi-wah were arrested on the mainland on March 8 last year, following the February 26 attack on Lau.
Egan said Hong Kong police interviewed Yip against his will.
Wong Wai-kay denied having threatened Yip and forced him to undergo the interview.
"First of all, I don't know" whether they were interrogated there, he said. "Secondly, I did not see any superficial injuries or any sign of instability in his mental state at that time."
He also said it was impossible for Hong Kong police to send the pair back to the mainland authorities for trial.
The two defendants deny one count each of causing grievous bodily harm to Lau in Sai Wan Ho. They also deny stealing the motorcycle they allegedly rode to get there. As well, Yip pleads not guilty to stealing a vehicle licence.
Egan said Yip showed hesitation during the interview with Hong Kong police, which was recorded on video.
For example, he was unable to give the specific price he was allegedly to be paid for the job, the lawyer said.
That was unlikely to be due to Yip's inability to remember the amount, Wong Wai-kay replied.
"I think he was thinking how to answer the question," the constable said. "He was afraid he would disclose who was instructing him from behind" the scenes.
He insisted he did not in any way influence what Yip said during the interview. "I cannot control what he said in front of the camera."
The trial continues before Madam Justice Esther Toh Lye-ping today.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1844089/alleged-attacker-ming-pao-editor-hong-kong-claims-court
