THREE defendants in the Sek Kong murder trial have prevented four Vietnamese witnesses from leaving Hong Kong, ensuring they testify in the High Court.
By consent, an interim order was endorsed by Deputy Judge Yam for the four witnesses to stay at the Kai Tak Vietnamese Migrant Transit Centre.
The matter will be fully argued on January 14, but yesterday the four were allowed conditional bail.
Mr John McLanachan appeared for the witnesses, Ho Van Hiep, Lai A Loc, Phan Phu Tho and Le Thi Hong Van, and Senior Crown Counsel Nicholas Bradley appeared for the Director of Immigration.
The men will give evidence at the trial of 13 people charged with murder following a fire in February last year in which 24 people died and scores were injured.
