The bullet that killed a Nepali man in March last year penetrated his left ear and entered his brain, an inquest heard yesterday. Dil Bahadur Limbu, 30, died after a policeman shot him in the head on a Ho Man Tin hillside where Limbu was taking shelter. The policeman went there after a resident in a nearby housing estate complained about a loiterer. Pathologist Chiao Wing-fu said the bullet penetrated Limbu's left ear, glanced across the surface of the back of his ear, and perforated the left side of his head, causing severe brain damage. Chiao, who said Limbu died of a gunshot wound to the head in his autopsy report, also found an abrasion on the Nepali's left forearm caused by blunt force. Toxicology tests revealed no signs of drugs in his body. Four police officers - including a firearms forensic officer - were present during the autopsy. Nigel Kat, representing Limbu's widow Sony Rai, raised questions about the autopsy, including whether the firearms officer requested a swab sample from one of the wounds or a CT scan of the head. Chiao said the officer did not. Chiao also said that infrared was not used to examine the gunshot residue. The inquest, which began last September, had heard that constable Hui Ka-ki and his partner were deployed to investigate a resident's complaint. Hui said he found a man and asked for his ID card. The man refused the request and moved away. When Hui told the man to stop and moved towards him, the man punched him. Hui hit him with his baton and sprayed his eyes with pepper spray. Hui said the man tried to attack him with part of a chair and refused to back down despite warnings. He then drew his revolver and warned him again before opening fire. The inquest continues before Coroner William Ng Sing-wai.
