The Court of Appeal yesterday reserved judgment to a later date on an appeal launched by seven abode-seekers convicted of killing two people in the Immigration Tower arson attack of 2000.
The seven included ringleader Sze Kwan-lung, 24, who had his murder conviction downgraded to manslaughter in June. He was previously jailed for life, and his sentencing has been delayed by yesterday's court decision.
His barrister, John McNamara, told the court Sze should receive the same sentence as the other six defendants because they were all convicted of a 'joint enterprise' that caused the two deaths.
The co-accused - Pang Hon-kwan, Fu Mo, Lam Hing-luen, Yeung Yee-ping, Yeung Yee-yim, and Chau Hung-chuen - were acquitted of murder but found guilty of manslaughter over the August 2, 2000, fire.
Yeung Yee-yim and Chau were jailed for 13 years, while the rest received 12 years. The seven defendants were also found guilty of arson, for which they received concurrent five-year sentences.
Mr Justice Wally Yeung Chun-kuen, sitting with Mr Justice Michael Stuart-Moore and Mr Justice Frank Stock, said yesterday that Sze had taken a 'more active role' as the leader of the group.
