Third man jailed over shop attack
A man was jailed for four years yesterday for taking part in an attack on a salesman dubbed the 'street-cat killer', who died hours later.
Unemployed Lam Wai-ho, 45, was convicted of wounding with intent to commit grievous bodily harm after a trial at the District Court.
He attacked Johnny Kong Chi-kit, 38, last June at a Temple Street electronic gifts store where Kong had worked.
Kong was described as the 'street-cat killer' and attracted negative media attention to the store by shooting at cats with an air gun.
Two other men, including the owner of the store, earlier pleaded guilty to the attack and were jailed.
The court heard that in the early hours of June 29 last year, Kong was brought to the store, where the trio beat him until he collapsed.
When they were sure he was not pretending to be unconscious, attempts were made to resuscitate him and the shop owner drove him to the hospital. He was later declared dead. An autopsy report showed he had suffered fractured ribs in the attack. However, he died from the effects of the drug Ice, or methamphetamine.
Lam had attempted to distance himself from the actions of the other two defendants, saying he had been trying to mediate between Kong and the store owner, who had accused Kong of stealing.
However Deputy District Judge Amanda Woodcock concluded Lam had not played a passive role and that he took part in the attack.
Jailing him, the judge said: 'I find there was a joint enterprise between him and the other defendants to beat Kong. I reject [Lam's] evidence as an attempt to distance himself.'
The store owner was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison and the other defendant, who is unemployed, to three years.
