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Rurik Jutting
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Armoured vehicles transport Rurik Jutting to the High Court. Photo: Dickson Lee

British banker accused of murdering two women pleads not guilty as Hong Kong judge warns jury about ‘unpleasant’ photos

Rurik Jutting is accused of killing two Indonesian women in his Wan Chai flat in 2014

A British former banker pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder as his trial opened with the judge warning that the jury would see “unpleasant photographs” during the trial.

Rurik Jutting is charged with two counts of murder for the deaths of two Indonesian women, Sumarti Ningsih and Seneng Mujiasih.

Both were found dead inside his flat at J Residence on Johnston Road, in Wan Chai.

Jutting, who had been in custody since November 1, 2014 – the day the two corpses were found – appeared in the High Court on Monday morning.

A 2014 file picture of Rurik Jutting. Photo: Sam Tsang

Though he denied two counts of murder, the former banker pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

The accused, who had noticeably lost weight since his arrest, was represented by barristers, including Clive Grossman SC and Tim Owen.

Michael Vidler (centre), one of Jutting's lawyers, appears at the High Court . Photo: Dickson Lee

The trial is scheduled to be held for 15 days until November 11. Five men and four women in a nine-member jury will decide whether the Briton is guilty of murder.

When selecting the jury, Mr Justice Michael Stuart-Moore said that jurors would be shown certain “unpleasant photographs” as evidence.

He said those who had worked or currently work for Bank of America Merril Lynch could not be jurors.

The judge also told the jury it would hear evidence related to Jutting’s psychiatric and psychological conditions.

An editor and a housewife claimed their English was not good enough, and they were subsequently excused.

A few said they did not watch “bloody” action or horror movies. They were also excused.

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