POLICE are reviewing the circumstances behind the controversial acquittal of a sergeant who shot dead his chief inspector. It is understood police are outraged at the manner in which evidence was presented during the trial. They are exploring the possibility of officially challenging the role played by the prosecutor, Christopher Young, amid criticism he allowed damaging character testimony against the deceased to be submitted. But last week's acquittal verdict can never be challenged. Sergeant Leung Chung was cleared of murder and manslaughter of his superior officer, Inspector Leung Chi-lung, after claiming the shooting, which followed an argument over the sergeant's transfer from CID to uniform branch, was an accident. During the trial, Mr Young did not oppose the defence's application to read to the jury a statement made by Senior Inspector Pang Yau-kwok regarding the victim's personality. Police contend Mr Young should have objected to the move on the basis that Senior Inspector Pang was in Canada and could not be cross-examined. In the statement, Senior Inspector Pang said his former boss, Leung - who died last May after being shot through his chest in his Castle Peak police station office - was manipulative and stingy and seldom paid his share of staff meals. Senior Inspector Pang had been demoted. The police review of the shooting case is multi-pronged. The force is examining the police operation on the night of the shooting to determine whether action should have been taken earlier to end the siege. It is looking at the investigation and the court hearing. Another aspect is whether evidence disclosed in court merits disciplinary action against Sergeant Leung. A senior officer said: 'Obviously, this is quite an extraordinary case and has caused quite a degree of pain for the force. 'But we move on to an area in which we need to proceed with caution, that being the matter of whether the case was prosecuted with due vigour; whether there was anything done to right the balance. 'Our review will take into account whether there are any useful remarks to make about the prosecution - either good comments or bad comments.' Leung's wife, Lam Yee-sheung, 39, said she was pleased to hear the police were considering action, but described it as 'a cruel reality' that the acquittal verdict, as in all cases, was final. Mrs Leung yesterday petitioned Governor Chris Patten, seeking redress. The family has also written to the Legal Department and is planning to petition the police force. 'We want to tell Mr Patten how unfair the whole matter is, and what effect the verdict will have on the community,' she said. She said the family felt 'no sense of security' after her husband's death. 'Even if my husband did die shortly after being shot, should it have taken the police nearly three hours before they cracked the door open?' she asked. Mr Young could not be contacted for comment. But, as is standard procedure, he is likely to be required to submit a report citing the factors he believes led to the jury's not guilty verdict.
