Ban On Public Lifted At Mong Kok Riot Trial

The High Court has lifted a ban on the public attending the Mong Kok riot trial involving localist Edward Leung.

The court said there are no more threats to the jury’s safety as they have fulfilled their duty and have been discharged.

The court was scheduled to hear mitigation from Leung’s lawyer on Monday.

Leung was convicted of rioting for his role in the violent protest in Mong Kok during Chinese New Year in 2016, but he was found not guilty of inciting others to take part in a riot.

The judge on Friday barred members of the public from the courtroom after the judiciary received an email containing photographs of four jurors.

The photo was mailed with a warning that there were "a lot more to come", shortly before the jury delivered its verdict.

Judge Anthea Pang then cleared the court and ordered police escort for jurors and a 24-hour hotline to provide assistance.

Police said over the weekend that they were investigating the case. This was the second instance of the proceedings being disturbed over photos.

In February, a man who was reportedly a tourist from the mainland is believed to have taken several photographs of jurors and also made a video with his phone. However, court bailiffs let him go after telling him to delete the images without getting his personal details.