Kungfu grandmaster Leung Ting was sentenced to two months' jail yesterday for repeatedly banging his girlfriend's head against the floor and kicking her in the abdomen.
Deputy Magistrate Ko Wai-hung delivered the sentence in Kowloon City Court yesterday. In convicting Leung, he found that the 45-year-old victim, Rita Lip Sik-ying, was a credible witness. Leung, 62, had pleaded not guilty to one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm at his Yau Ma Tei home on March 30.
Leung, who was granted bail pending appeal, was surrounded by media on leaving court. He had been emotional in the court after sentencing, shouting: 'I had more things to say!' His barrister, Kevin Egan, asked him to calm down in order to proceed with his bail application.
Earlier, in mitigation, Egan said the conviction would cause a profound effect on his client's career. Leung had instructed army and special-forces members in several countries and was a member of the International Wing Tsun Association. 'There would be a stain on his professional qualification and might result in a loss of invitations to instruct.' Egan said Leung's income might also be hit.
In sentencing, the magistrate said: 'I believe the conviction has disappointed a lot of your disciples and your pupils.' He was aware the conviction would put Leung's career in danger. Yet it was necessary for the court to deliver a clear message to the public.
In previous hearings, Lip, Leung's lover of five years, testified that the assault happened after a dispute concerning a former wife of his, but it was the first time that he had been violent towards her. She recalled that Leung had suddenly run towards her, pushing her onto the bed. Li fought back. An agitated Leung pushed her onto the floor, pulled her hair and banged her head on the floor five or six times.