A SOCIAL worker and two rooftop dwellers yesterday denied assault charges at Western Court following a clash between police and protesters at a demonstration two weeks ago.
About 100 supporters of the defendants crowded into the courtroom and later chanted slogans in the street outside, demanding to talk to the Secretary for Housing.
They then marched on Central Police Station and blocked traffic for two hours.
The court heard the defendants were among 19 people who gathered at Citibank Tower in Central on March 17 protesting against the scheduled resettlement of rooftop residents from the Kingland Apartment in Nathan Road, Mongkok.
Lai Yuen-mei, 26, a social worker, pleaded not guilty to one charge of assaulting police officer Chow Yin-tung.
Businessman Lau Chi-pui, 34, denied assaulting another officer, Chan Pak-wai, and Leung Yiu-chan, 37, a construction site worker, pleaded not guilty to two charges of common assault against security guards Chan Chi-fai and Au Ngai-ming.