Kevin Lau Attackers Lose Appeal Over Convictions

The Court of Appeal on Wednesday upheld the convictions of two men involved in a knife attack on prominent Ming Pao journalist Kevin Lau in 2014 and maintained their 19-year prison sentences.

Wong Chi-wah had confessed to mainland police that he repeatedly stabbed Lau in a Sai Wan Ho street, leaving him critically injured. Yip Kim-wah confessed to driving the getaway motorcycle.

But both later claimed that they were beaten into confessing, and argued that mainland law enforcement officers should have been called to testify at their trial in Hong Kong so the court could consider whether the confessions were given voluntarily or not.

The Court of Appeal ruled, however, that the prosecution had no obligation to prove that the confessions were made voluntarily.

It added that it was the jury's job to decide whether the men's confessions were given freely and the court could not review that decision.

The three-judge panel also said that there was enough evidence to prove what had happened.

It added that the crime was premeditated, and Lau's injuries have made it impossible for him to ever run or jump again for the rest of his life.

The court said the case was so serious that it makes people's hair stand on end, and the sentences imposed were appropriate.