Hong Kong court terminates trial after suspect in deadly 1991 hold-up dies of cancer
A Hong Kong court has terminated a trial arising from a deadly shooting during a botched robbery three decades ago after the defendant died in custody earlier this week. The High Court on Wednesday discharged a seven-member jury presiding over the trial of Wen Wenye, who allegedly took part in the murder and attempted robbery at Shun Fat Company, a second-hand goods shop in Sham Shui Po, on June…
A Hong Kong court has ended a decades-old trial involving a deadly robbery, after the accused succumbed to cancer while in custody. The High Court discharged a seven-member jury on Wednesday after Wen Wenye, 62, passed away in a hospital. The incident occurred on June 9, 1991, at a second-hand goods shop in Sham Shui Po. The jury had previously ruled Wen inattentive to the laws due to his cognitive decline caused by lung cancer.
Wen, a resident of Shenzhen, was arrested on November 11, 2023, and diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Despite undergoing surgery to remove brain tissue and being placed in a wheelchair, the defendant appeared lethargic and inattentive during the trial. Prison officers frequently assisted Wen, who repeatedly slid off his wheelchair.
The government intends to conduct a death inquest to examine the circumstances surrounding Wen's demise.
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