Suspect 'turned religious'

A double-murder suspect appeared to become religious just days before his death in custody, a Coroner's Court jury heard yesterday.

Then Lam Tin-ming frequently lit joss sticks and prayed in a strange language, said housewife Chan Siu-ming, 36, who lived opposite him in Sha Tin.

Police were questioning Lam over the murders of two elderly men.

Ms Chan said Lam told her 'two little ghosts' would warn him of trouble. He said he had inherited witchcraft skills from his parents.

Police officers said they saw Lam perform 'spiritual kung fu' at his flat, punching himself, when they visited him on November 21, 1995.

Lam, 56, died during interrogation at the police station the next day.