Lawyers for Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai in intimidation case say impulsive ‘scolding’ sparked by pressure from rival newspaper
- Defence counsel Peter Duncan SC questions credibility of alleged victim and says his client’s words to the other party were uttered on the spur of the moment
- Magistrate May Chung Ming-sun of West Kowloon Court will deliver her verdict on September 3
Lawyers defending Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, on trial for intimidating a rival newspaper reporter, have characterised the incident as impulsive “scolding” on a hot summer evening following years of pressure imposed on him by his competitor and its employees.
Closing the case on Friday, defence counsel Peter Duncan SC said his client should be acquitted of criminal intimidation when he did not threaten the Oriental Daily reporter with bodily injury during the annual candlelight vigil at Victoria Park on June 4, 2017 as alleged.
West Kowloon Court heard Lai was accused of uttering three threatening phrases, which included “I will definitely find someone to fxxxing mess with you” and “I have fxxxing taken your photos”, after the reporter took pictures and videos of him during the event.
The reporter, who has been granted anonymity by the court, testified that he felt threatened when Lai cursed him, and was diagnosed with adjustment disorder – a condition stemming from stressful events – and depressed mood because of the incident.
“It is entirely understandable that the defendant would let off steam in this sort of circumstances,” Duncan said. “That is how this act should be characterised – it was scolding.”