Hong Kong pro-democracy veteran ‘Long Hair’ Leung Kwok-hung acquitted of assault
Alleged victim insists his right leg was injured when Leung kicked it, despite a hospital report focusing on his left
Veteran pro-democracy activist “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung was on Friday acquitted of assaulting a political opponent at Hong Kong’s legislature last year.
The prosecution failed because the alleged victim, a pro-Beijing activist, said his right leg had been injured when Leung kicked it, despite a hospital report focusing on his left.
Lau, 72, was among a large group protesting against pan-democrats’ filibustering, when he claimed Leung kicked him in the ankle.
But on Friday, Eastern Court magistrate Li Chi-ho ruled the elderly man’s account unreliable, clearing Leung, 62, of one count of common assault.
Li took issue with Lau’s insistence he was kicked in the right leg, despite photographs and a hospital report provided by the prosecution focusing on his left.
During the trial, Lau was given the chance to rethink his answer, the magistrate said, though Lau reiterated his right ankle was in pain for at least two days following the alleged assault.
“I found it really bizarre,” the magistrate said. He concluded that prosecutors had failed to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt.
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Li had said that while he was provided with video footage of the day, it failed to capture what happened.
“I don’t think I have been well treated or fairly treated,” he added, saying that he was only at the scene that day to fulfil his legislator’s duty to listen to different voices.