Man killed neighbour’s family by setting fire to their flat before burning own home in suicide, Hong Kong inquest hears
- Tragic incident in 2016 claimed lives of couple in 20s and three-year-old daughter, with experts suggesting separate blazes were set by fourth victim who lived opposite
- Two days of testimonies earlier by family members and neighbours raised instances of threats and disputes between occupants
An inquest into a blaze that killed a man and a family of three at a public housing estate three years ago heard on Friday that the man might have set fire to his neighbour’s home before killing himself.
The theory was raised by a government forensic scientist on the third day of the review into the cause of the fire at Kwun Lung Lau in Kennedy Town. The incident killed Hui Wai-chung, 63, and the family next door on the 13th floor – Huang Zhiqiang, 26, his wife Wu Qianxin, 25, and their three-year-old daughter Huang Yilin.
Following two days of testimonies from surviving family members and neighbours – who spoke of threats and disputes – forensic scientist Chan Ho-yin on Friday offered his take.
“[Hui] killed intentionally and then returned to his own flat to commit suicide,” he said. Chan reached his conclusion based on findings at the scene.
[Hui] killed intentionally and then returned to his own flat to commit suicide
The court heard the blaze had engulfed the homes of Hui and the Huangs in the early hours of July 16, 2016, causing Hui, Wu and her daughter to die in their own flat. Huang fell to his death.
Chan said on Friday that on closer examination, it appeared that there were two separate fires in the case, and both had been deliberately set.