The coroner in the inquest into the death of model Annie Pang Chor-ying told the jury yesterday that it could not conclude that she was murdered or committed suicide.
Coroner Colin Mackintosh said suggestions during the inquest that Pang's death had been arranged by her ex-lover, John Fang Meng-sang - the lawyer brother of former chief secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang and owner of the Yau Ma Tei flat where her headless skeleton was found - were 'speculative' and not supported by evidence.
'The law does not allow me to let you come to a conclusion that Pang was murdered,' the coroner said.
Also ruling out suicide, he said that although Pang had a history of suicide attempts, there was no evidence of such an intention at the time she died.
The five-person jury will retire today after 18 days of hearing 35 witnesses but with no evidence as to the cause of death. The court heard earlier that no cause could be ascertained as the corpse had been reduced to a skeleton when found.
Summarising the case yesterday, Mr Mackintosh left three options for the jury - natural causes, accident, or an open verdict.
He said there was evidence that Pang was an epileptic and a doctor had told the court an epileptic attack could kill without proper treatment.