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Elderly Hong Kong man killed landlord with hammer, then locked rotting body in room, court hears in murder trial

  • Corpse was only discovered five days later when a housemate noticed stench and maggots
  • Accused had told officers alleged victim was the one who started fight

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The High Court in Admiralty. Photo: Sam Tsang

An elderly Hong Kong man repeatedly struck his landlord on the head with a hammer, breaking his skull and causing him to bleed to death, the court heard on Tuesday in a murder trial.

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The deceased, Chan Kun-lan, 80, was not discovered until days later when a housemate noticed maggots in the home and a stench. Alleged attacker Ngai Yiu-ching, 79, had locked Chan in a room and left his body there.

Prosecutor Steven Kwan Man-wai revealed details of the case to the High Court in his opening speech.

“Cheung saw between 20 and 30 maggots crawling from the room,” the prosecutor said, referring to Cheung Sair-leung, Ngai’s housemate.

Cheung only discovered the body when he became suspicious from the signs and peeked into the room from a window, according to Kwan.

On Tuesday Ngai pleaded not guilty to one count of murder on April 10, 2017 at their home in Tin Sam Tsuen in Yuen Long. The trial, expected to stretch eight days, will be heard by a panel of seven jurors.

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