An unarmed Hong Kong student who was shot and killed by a police officer in 2019 during the massive pro-democracy protests was convicted on Monday of multiple charges, including attempting to steal the gun. A traffic cop shot 23-year-old Chow Pak-kwan at point-blank range outside a subway station in November 2019 as protesters called for a general strike. The scene, which shows the policeman taking his gun and pointing it in the direction of protesters blocking the road, was broadcast live on Facebook by a local journalist.
A second protester found guilty
He briefly got into a fight with a protester dressed in white, as Mr Chow approached. He then shot the young Hong Kong man, hitting him in the stomach. Mr. Chow lost his right kidney and sustained liver and spinal injuries. He was later charged with attempting to steal the police officer’s firearm, obstructing law enforcement, and attempting to flee while in custody, managing to free himself and run a few meters despite his gunshot wound.
A second protester, also a student, Woo Tsz-kin, 22, was also convicted of attempted theft of the policeman’s weapon and obstruction. The protester shown in white in the video has never been identified. Monday, Messrs. Woo and Chow were both found guilty by District Court Judge Adriana Tse after a six-month trial. The magistrate found it reasonable for the officer, who was identified only as “A” under an order requesting anonymity, to feel threatened and to draw his firearm because that people were blocking the roads and insulting him.
Their sentence pronounced in October
“Although the two defendants were unarmed, they could still incite others present at the scene and escalate the situation,” Ms Tse said. Mr Chow wrote on social media on Sunday evening of having mixed feelings about the impending verdict. “I only hope that my physical condition will allow me to face the bad situation that is coming. I am also worried about the mental health of my family members,” he wrote.
Both were remanded in custody Monday pending the quantum of their sentence to be pronounced in October.