'Embarrassing': judge bemoans delay in bizarre trolley rage case

A barrister was due to be sentenced yesterday after being found guilty of pinning a supermarket manager against a shelf with a shopping trolley.

But the bizarre drama continued in Kowloon City Court when Lau Sai-luk, 57, asked to delay the sentencing because he wanted to submit a blood test report, prompting confusion in the court.

Magistrate Abu Bakar bin Wahab granted the unusual adjournment, but criticised Lau for "embarrassing" his lawyer by forcing him to make such a request.

Earlier the court heard that Lau, who was a regular customer at the Market Place supermarket in the K11 shopping mall in Tsim Sha Tsui, pinned its manager Wong Ah-yuen against a shelf using a shopping trolley.

Wong raised his hands and asked: " Sir, what is the matter?"

Lau replied: "I have to dodge you, so I hit you with the trolley."

The barrister then shoved Wong with his trolley a second time. The attack left Wong with "tenderness" in his right thigh, according to a prosecution medical report.

While the first assault could have been an accident, the magistrate said, the second must have been intentional.

Lau had pleaded not guilty to the assault charge.

Defence lawyer Albert Luk Wai-hung said his client would need a three-week adjournment to prepare his blood test and medical reports, and collect mitigation letters from different charity organisations.

Luk also asked the court to consider sentencing options of "conditional discharge" or "absolute discharge".

"If I were your barrister, I would feel embarrassed for saying all this in court," the magistrate said. "I'm showing compassion, so I will let you get the reports."

Lau will now be sentenced on October 21, pending probation and community service reports.