Man Jailed For 14 And A Half Years After Biting Off Ex Politician’s Ear
Hong Kong's high court has sentenced a man to 14 and a half years after he bit off a former politician's ear and attacked three others in the 2019 protests.
In June 2019, a series of demonstrations erupted in the city which became known as the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement.
They were held in opposition to the Hong Kong government's plans to extradite fugitive offenders to mainland China.
Today (19 April), former merchant 52-year-old Joe Chen - who is assaulted four people during the protests - was sentenced to 14 and a half years in prison.
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On the evening of 3 November, at around 7.00pm outside Cityplaza mall, Quarry Bay, protestors assembled for what was anticipated as being a peaceful demonstration, South China Morning Post reports.
Civilian Louis Wan Ho-lun was with his wife and her cousin on their way to dinner when they heard Chen shout, 'Restore Taiwan' in both Mandarin and Cantonese.
After Wan shouted back at Chen, questioning: "What are you talking about?" the 52-year-old proceeded to slash Wan in the stomach with a fruit knife.
The jurors heard how Wan felt 'something wet'. He said: "I pulled up my shirt to find blood on my stomach. It happened very quickly."
Chen then turned on Wan's wife Leung Pik-kei and stabbed her, before beating her cousin Leung Ying-ying.
Democratic Party district counsellor Andrew Chiu ka-yin rushed to the trio's aid, but was grabbed by Chen, who clutched his head 'like a bowling ball' and bit off part of his ear.
Chiu told the court: "I just wanted to help. Why was I attacked? How did our society become like this?
"I tried my best to push him away. But he was bigger so I couldn’t – and he bit down with a ‘pluck’ sound … I will remember that sound for the rest of my life."
In Hong Kong's top court, the suspect faced one count of common assault as well as three counts of wounding with intent.
Chen pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Chen's defence team argued he had been under the influence of alcohol.
Appearing to change tack several times, they also tried to argue Chen had acted in such a way in self-defence, as a result of being provoked, and because of insanity.
The jury - made up of four women and three men - were left unconvinced Chen hadn't committed the acts with no intention to inflict grievous bodily harm on his victims.
Prosecutor Steven Kwan Man-wai argued Chen knew what he was doing was wrong when he attacked all four victims.
All four victims were also stated as having been left with severe physical and mental injuries according to the court's Madam Justice Judianna Barnes.
However, Justice Barnes accepted alcohol had been an influence in the attacks.
In December 2021, Chen was subsequently convicted of all charges and today he was sentenced to 14 and a half years in prison.
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Poppy Bilderbeck