Australian killed in Yuen Long died from multiple stab wounds
Twenty detectives search for evidence to help establish a motive for the murder
An Australian found dead in his Yuen Long village house on Saturday was killed by multiple stab wounds, an autopsy has confirmed.
Wounds on the body of Gordon Hutchings, 73, a retired lecturer at the applied arts department of the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, centred around his head, neck and chest.
A friend found Hutchings dead in bed at his Kam Hing Wai home on Chi Ho Road at about 2pm on Saturday. He was believed to have been stabbed in the early hours of the morning.
A team of 20 detectives from the third regional crime unit of the Northern District headquarters yesterday returned to the murder scene and collected more evidence.
On Saturday night, detectives removed two pairs of scissors Hutchings used to make theatre costumes. One pair was covered in blood.
But the motive for the murder remains a mystery.
'We are still unsure whether there is any property loss as the victim was living alone,' a police spokeswoman said yesterday.
Living on the ground floor of the village house, Hutchings was frequently visited by his former students. He specialised in theatre costumes and worked for the academy for at least six years until late last year.
Gary Fry, a senior lecturer at the academy who visited Hutchings two weeks ago, said he was shocked to hear about the death of his former colleague.
'It is devastating to hear about the news,' he said, adding that Hutchings had many friends and students in Hong Kong.
Mr Fry said the department might discuss mourning arrangements today.
