Thief was 'right to help out'
A guilty robber should not suffer for testifying in an innocent friend's defence, the Court of Appeal ruled yesterday.
Yu Hong-kit, 38, was part of a gang that raided a Yuen Long restaurant on June 8, 1994. They tied up the owners, ransacked the premises and made off with $70,000 in cash and jewellery. Yu was caught a month later.
He pleaded guilty on May 2, 1995, but his alleged accomplice, Wong Ngan-wa, maintained his innocence. Yu testified in his defence but Mr Wong was found guilty.
Deputy Judge Wesley Wong Wing-fai sentenced Yu to nine years, seven months for robbery and firearms possession, with no discount for his guilty plea as 'he showed no remorse'. Deputy Judge Wong and Mr Justice Kemal Bokhary allowed Yu's appeal, reducing his term to eight years.
