The practice of not using perjured witnesses to give Crown evidence had been waived for the first time because of public pressure to have a policeman tried for murder, it was claimed yesterday.
Defence lawyer John Haynes told a High Court jury a historic situation had been created by the prosecution's decision to call a convicted person as its prime witness, even though he had lied at his own trial.
He described the move as 'incredible' and said it contravened an ancient rule that only witnesses who have admitted their guilt could give evidence against others.
Mr Haynes suggested the move might have been sparked by public pressure to have policeman Raymond Ng Wai-man, 31, put on trial for allegedly hiring hitmen to kill his wife.
Ng had been portrayed as a man who got away with murder after being arrested and then discharged because there was not enough evidence, said Mr Haynes.
'Imagine the pressure on the police and the prosecution,' he added.
Ng was taken back to court after hitman Wong Tat-chuen, 33, was found guilty of the murder and agreed to give evidence for the prosecution.
