Teacher cleared of hitting dog walkers

A teacher was acquitted yesterday of assaulting a woman and her son as they walked their eight dogs on Lamma Island after the magistrate said she did not believe the defendant or the alleged victims.

Eastern Court magistrate Catherine Lo Kit-yee said she did not believe the version of events given by Tam Wing-yu, 43, Yuen Siu-leung, 19, or teacher Franz Nel, 39, who had denied two charges of assault.

The defendant had told the court that he kicked two of the woman's dogs to prevent them from biting him.

However, the magistrate said yesterday that had the defendant kicked two of the dogs, he could have sparked an attack from the pack.

The magistrate also ruled out a claim by Mr Nel that the woman struck him with a bamboo pole, as he had suffered no injuries.

She also dismissed a costs application which was made by defence barrister James McGowan.