An inmate stabbed the eye of a fellow prisoner with a sharpened toothbrush because the victim refused to help him petition prison authorities to open an indoor playground for him to play soccer on rainy days, the District Court heard yesterday.
Ho Yuk-wun, 51, described by prosecutors as a 'very dangerous' criminal serving a jail term, pleaded not guilty to one count of wounding and one of assault against fellow prisoners Mak Siu-wing and Soong Kwok-fai on April 20, 2009, at the maximum security Shek Pik Prison.
The court heard that Mak lost 10 per cent of vision in his left eye because of the incident and Soong suffered cuts to his face, waist and limbs. However, Ho's lawyers said he acted in self-defence. All three inmates have Category A status, meaning they are among the most dangerous and violent criminals in the prison.
Because of their status, police and the Correctional Services Department frisked and searched people entering the court.
Mak gave evidence in court handcuffed. He said he was taking a nap after lunch in the prison's canteen when he suddenly felt pain. He fell on the floor with his face covered in blood. He saw Ho holding a sharp object, which he later found was a sharpened toothbrush, charge towards Soong, who held up a plastic chair as a shield.
Mak said he believed he was attacked because he did not confront the Correctional Services Department, as Ho had asked him to, and refused to collect complaint letters from inmates. The court heard Mak originally wrote a letter to the department but later withdrew a complaint.