The primary suspect behind the stabbing of a police officer in Hong Kong last year had also intended to kill himself, an inquest has found in ruling his death a suicide. A jury of three women and two men returned the unanimous verdict at the Coroner’s Court on Wednesday, after hearing evidence that Leung Kin-fai had sought retribution against police for alleged acts of brutality during the city’s anti-government protests in 2019. The 50-year-old former Vitasoy purchasing agent drove a dagger into the back of Constable So King-cho, while the latter was patrolling outside the Sogo department store in Causeway Bay, in an apparently random assault on a police officer on July 1, 2021. Hong Kong police officer has not returned to full duty over a year after attack Leung later stabbed himself in the chest twice before he was subdued and arrested by other officers at the scene. He was declared dead in hospital. The five-day court inquiry revealed Leung had prepared a will and open letters to police and the general public before the horrific incident. In one letter, he accused police of wounding residents and evading responsibilities “during the last two years”, in an apparent reference to the social unrest that erupted in June 2019. Leung claimed the lack of a mechanism to monitor police had led to “chaos” and that “what happened today” was a result of officers harbouring criminals. ‘I can’t forgive him,’ says Hong Kong police officer injured in knife attack In another letter addressed to “Hong Kong uncles and aunties”, Leung expressed his grievances over the “many crimes in society”, including “police brutality”, and what he saw as the public’s failure to keep police powers in check. “Today’s event was meant to introduce checks and balances,” wrote Leung, who called himself “Hong Kong uncle”. “There is no so-called doomed fate, but only one who awaits his doom. An operation is successful because it is discreet, small in scale and takes everyone by surprise.” Hong Kong police on high alert after officer stabbing by ‘lone-wolf domestic terrorist’ Investigators also seized from Leung’s home numerous newspaper cuttings of the now-defunct Apple Daily, where he worked as an information researcher in 2008. The man had singled out stories critical of the government and police during the 2019 unrest, the inquest heard, with one investigator calling the reports false and inaccurate. Two clinical psychologists agreed the deceased was an introverted perfectionist, who was assertive and organised but socially inept. Dr Vince Ho Wing-sze, from police’s national security department, observed elements of vicarious victimisation and believed Leung might have felt himself being unfairly treated through reading news articles alleging police’s misconduct. Another expert, Dr Amos Cheung Chuen-yin, suggested the deceased might have developed an extreme obsession with his ideals after years of receiving information from a single news source. Ho said education on the “correct” perceptions about national safety could mitigate the chance of a “lone-wolf style act of terrorism”, a term used by authorities to describe the July 1 attack. But Coroner David Ko Wai-hung on Wednesday said such a recommendation might be impracticable, noting that human behaviour was influenced by many factors, such as family and personal upbringing. In his directions to the jury, Ko stressed the inquiry was neither a criminal trial to determine liability nor a platform to suggest changes in public policies. While jurors might not share the same view on certain issues, they should base their rulings solely on the evidence submitted in court, the coroner added. Family members and former colleagues have portrayed Leung as a distant figure and an introvert who rarely shared his thoughts with others. Leung’s brother earlier testified he was unaware of how the deceased had made a living before his death, and that he and his parents did not attend Leung’s cremation. The family was also absent from Wednesday’s court hearing. 4 HKU student leaders could face 7 years’ jail over July 1 police stabbing motion The July 1 attack came as Hong Kong marked the 24th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule, a year after Beijing imposed a national security law on the city. After the incident, some residents laid flowers at the site in mourning of Leung, while others posted messages on social media hailing him as a “martyr”. Authorities declared the attack an act of “domestic terrorism”, warning any attempt to honour the assailant could be deemed a transgression under the new law. Four University of Hong Kong student leaders were prosecuted for passing a motion lauding the attack. They will stand trial in the District Court next year on charges of advocating terrorism and incitement to wound. If you are having suicidal thoughts, or you know someone who is, help is available. For Hong Kong, dial +852 2896 0000 for The Samaritans or +852 2382 0000 for Suicide Prevention Services. In the US, call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on +1 800 273 8255. For a list of other nations’ helplines, see this page