Couple jailed for throwing bottle of acid over pregnant girlfriend
A man and his female friend were jailed yesterday for throwing a bottle of hydrochloric acid over his pregnant girlfriend after she demanded money for an abortion.
Chan Chun-pang, 21, offered Nina Wong Ying-ni, 19, HK$500 to carry out the attack. He was jailed for eight years and she was sentenced to six years and eight months. Mr Justice Alan Wright described the assault as 'a wicked attack on a defenceless woman'.
Chan and Wong pleaded guilty last month in the Court of First Instance to one count each of throwing a corrosive liquid with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The court heard the bottle broke over the head of Ngie Pik-fan, 17, who was pregnant, causing chemical burns to her face and left shoulder that will probably cause permanent scarring.
In sentencing, the judge noted the victim, whose face was disfigured, was now reluctant to leave home, fearing another attack.
He said photographs of the victim showed the dreadful nature of the injuries inflicted in the 'careless and calculated attack'.
The court heard Ms Ngie suspected she was pregnant and phoned Chan on February 9 to tell him. He denied being the father. Ms Ngie then demanded HK$7,500 for an abortion, which Chan refused.
Early on February 11, Chan telephoned Ms Ngie. He told her he would pay the money and arranged to meet her at a restaurant in Wan Chai at 10.30pm.
Ms Ngie arrived at 10.45pm with a couple of friends, while Chan and Wong arrived a little later. Chan offered HK$1,000 and said the rest would be transferred to her account later. The couple then left.
At 12.15am, Chan rang and asked her to meet him outside the restaurant. Still on the phone, Ms Ngie walked out into the street. A woman wearing a cap rushed up to her and smashed a green glass bottle over her head.
She was taken to hospital with a 1.5cm gash above her left eye and chemical burns to 2.5 per cent of her body.
