Accused's statement 'given under duress'
A man accused of plotting to steal and ransom the body of tycoon Li Ka-shing's late wife was acquitted without trial yesterday after allegations his police statement was extracted under duress.
Two other men have already pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme.
Mr Justice Alan Wright in the Court of First Instance ruled Wu Chun-sing's police statement was inadmissible because of doubts about whether it was given voluntarily.
Mr Wu pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to blackmail and criminal damage.
He accused police of assaulting, threatening and offering him inducements to extract the statement, in which he admitted having a role in the plot.
Mr Justice Wright said he rejected the assault claim but was unable to dispel beyond doubt the accusations of threat and inducement because police had failed to videotape the interview or get Mr Wu's agreement to proceed without a video recording.