Rape suspect’s body pulseless and cold when discovered hanging in Hong Kong police station, inquest hears

Coroner’s Court told by more officers about missed patrols in the hour before his death because of ‘stomach ache’ or ‘headache’

Police constables’ refusal to answer questions about their conduct elicits frustration from coroner and juror

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Lam was at Sau Mau Ping police station in Kwun Tong when he was discovered dead. Photo: Handout

Published: 10:46pm, 29 Oct 2018Updated: 5:34am, 30 Oct 2018

The body of a rape suspect was pulseless and cold when discovered hanging in a Hong Kong police station detention ward last year, an inquest heard on Monday.

The Coroner’s Court also heard that officers on duty on May 11 last year had missed critical routine checks that were supposed to take place less than an hour before Lam Wing-chun’s death, because they had either a “stomach ache” or “headache”.

These revelations added to those of other officers, the inquest earlier heard, who missed their patrols even though they claimed to have done so in a log book.

Police officers who were asked about the false records on Monday repeatedly avoided the questioning and on many occasions claimed they could not recall what had happened on the day.

Lam Wing-chun being taken into custody on May 10, 2017. Photo: Felix Wong

“I do not have more questions as you will not answer,” Coroner Ko Wai-hung said at one point to an officer, who, alongside six others, had hired lawyers to advise them in court.