Hong Kong court orders retrial of man charged with murdering taxi driver after jury fails to reach majority verdict

A Hong Kong court has ordered a retrial for Matthew Choi, 36, after a jury failed to reach a majority verdict in the murder case. Choi was accused of stabbing a taxi driver, Wai Kim-hung, to death in Sai Ying Pun on October 12, 2021. The seven-member jury deliberated for 16 hours but could not agree on whether Choi should be convicted of murder.

Judge Esther Toh discharged the jury and directed a retrial. Choi had pleaded not guilty to the charge. According to the prosecution, Choi killed Wai after the victim hailed his taxi outside the WE Hotel. The prosecution argued that Choi was clear-headed and had checked in at the hotel the day before. However, the defense claimed that Choi believed he was being targeted by the government and that he felt his mind was being controlled when he assaulted the taxi driver.

The defense also presented testimony from a psychiatrist who stated that Choi had been suffering from mental illness since the age of 20 and did not remember committing the murder. The trial has been ongoing for 23 days, with the prosecution arguing that the murder was planned and the defense arguing otherwise.