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Gary Cheung

He has served 19 years for the murder of two expats that stunned the community

One of the five men jailed for the 1985 murders of two expatriate teenagers at Braemar Hill will leave prison next Tuesday to enjoy the Mid-Autumn Festival with his family.

Won Sam-lung, 35, will be the first member of the so-called Braemar Hill Gang to  be freed.

Won's elder brother, who declined to be named, told the South China Morning Post that his brother would  leave Stanley Prison on Tuesday.

Won,  the youngest of the five convicted, was given a definite sentence with a duration of 27 years by Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa in July on the recommendation of the Long-term Prison Sentences Review Board. He was originally given an indefinite term at Her Majesty's and later the Chief Executive's pleasure.

A prisoner is likely to be released once he has served two-thirds of his sentence.

'Our family are happy with his coming release and are looking forward to the family reunion we have longed for, for many years,' Won's brother said.

Aged 16, Won was jailed in September 1985 after admitting his part in the murders in April  that year of Island School students Kenneth McBride, 17, and Nicola Myers, 18.  He  became a crown witness during the trial of the others.

In January 1987, Pang Shun-yee,  24, Tam Sze-foon,  20, and Chiu Wai-man,  25, were convicted of murdering the teenagers. The brutality of the killings stunned the community. Nicola suffered a horrific ordeal. Pang was convicted of raping her and she sustained at least 500 cuts to her body. Kenneth had more than 100 injuries and was strangled.

Pang, Tam and Chiu were sentenced to death, which was commuted to life in prison in 1989. Cheung Yau-hang,  who was also 16 at the time of the murders, was sentenced to be detained at Her Majesty's pleasure.

Cheung claims Pang, the 'big brother', ordered him and Won to beat the expatriate teenagers so they would also be implicated.

In December 1997, Chief Justice Andrew Li Kwok-nang imposed a minimum term of 20 years on Won compared with 30 years for Cheung.

In 1993, Won wrote to the Post: 'I sincerely say sorry to the families of the victims for what I have done.  I know it is too late. I just wish to express my remorse.'

He said  he did not expect to be forgiven.

His life had been renewed after he admitted the charge and became a Christian, he said.

Won's  brother said he hoped Won would complete the Association of Chartered Certified Accounts' international accounting exam and find a job.

Won was expected to pass all the papers of the exam by the end of next year, his brother said.

The victims'  families  could not be reached for comment.



Braemar Hill killer to walk free on Tuesday