Hong Kong protests: magistrate cites weak prosecution evidence in declining to accept teen’s guilty plea
- While 18-year-old admitted carrying flammable liquid to a demonstration, the magistrate ruled it could not be proven he intended to use it
- The case has been adjourned until next Tuesday to give prosecutors a chance to discuss the matter
Eastern Court Principal Magistrate Bina Chainrai refused to endorse the guilty plea of Chan Yip-wan, who faced two counts over the January 1 rally on Hong Kong Island.
There was no suggestion he was going to use [the flammable liquid with intent to damage property]
The prosecution alleged the 18-year-old student threw a brick towards a water cannon truck at 7pm, as police were dispersing protesters in Wan Chai and Causeway Bay. He was subsequently subdued by three officers, who found a bottle of paint thinner, a box cutter, a lighter and a hammer in his possession.
Chan pleaded guilty on Tuesday to criminal damage and possessing things with intent to damage property.
Despite that plea, Chainrai said she could not necessarily draw the inference that the student intended to commit an offence using the items seized from him, as prosecutors argued in the second charge.
“There was no suggestion he was going to use [the flammable liquid with intent to damage property],” Chainrai said.
