District Court hearing also reveals the seven officers plan to challenge the video allegedly recording their involvement
CHRIS.LAU@SCMP.COM
PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 08 December, 2015, 4:32pm
UPDATED : Tuesday, 08 December, 2015, 4:36pm
The seven arrived for their hearing before Judge Anthony Kwok Kai-on at District Court in Wan Chai. Photo: Sam Tsang
The seven police officers accused of assaulting Occupy protester Ken Tsang Kin-chiu indicated today that they would plead not guilty, with identity being a “key issue” and the video allegedly recording their involvement set to be challenged at trial.
Chief inspector Wong Cho-shing, 48, senior inspector Lau Cheuk-ngai, 29, detective sergeant Pak Wing-bun, 42, and constables Lau Hing-pui, 38, Chan Siu-tan, 31, Kwan Ka-ho, 32, and Wong Wai-ho, 36, face one joint charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. Chan also faces one additional count of common assault.
Managing the case, District Court Judge Anthony Kwok Kai-on asked: “Is identity an issue?”
“A key issue,” replied senior counsel Lawrence Lok Ying-kam, for Wong Cho-sing.
Kwok also asked David Leung Cheuk-yin SC, deputy director of public prosecutions, why there was a lack of evidence authenticating the footage from Television Broadcasts Limited – an exhibit the defence counsels said they would challenge.
“We are unable to seek [the cameraman’s] assistance on that,” Leung said, adding that the television station refused to reveal the identity of the cameraman upon being approached.
The seven dressed almost identically with some wearing surgical masks today. Photo: Sam Tsang
He said he would produce for the court at least 10 other videos shot on the same day to establish the authenticity of what was recorded.
Kwok said he hoped the high-profile case would be determined by the merits of the presented evidence rather than by technicality. He adjourned the case to March 11 next year for a pre-trial session. He also set the trial date for June 1.
The seven policemen, dressed in similar suits and neckties, went behind the dock for the first time, as is required of all District Court defendants.
Barristers representing the seven at trial also made their debut: Wong Cho-shing was represented by Lok; Lau Cheuk-ngai, Pak and Kwan by Cheng Huan SC; Lau Hing-pui by Edwin Choi; Chan by Bernard Chung; and Wong Wai-ho by Cesar Lo Chi-lam.
Unlike previous hearings, the number of the policemen’s supporters outside court today noticeably dwindled, with fewer than a score chanting slogans as the men made their entry.
However, security measures remained heightened with dozens of policemen, both in uniform and plain clothes, posted at the court. Cameramen were warded off in a restricted zone.
The court heard earlier that the seven allegedly “unlawfully and maliciously” caused grievous bodily harm to Tsang with intent outside a pump station near Lung Wui Road Government Building in Admiralty on October 15 last year.
Chan allegedly assaulted Tsang in an interview room on another occasion.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1888327/hong-kong-policemen-charged-ken-tsang-beating-plead-not
