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Brian Wong

A Hong Kong man has been found guilty of manslaughter but acquitted of murdering his girlfriend after jurors accepted his claim that he may have mistakenly beaten her to death while trying to help her lose weight by keeping her awake overnight.
A High Court jury on Friday ruled by a majority of 5:2 that Ng Ka-sing, 29, was not guilty of murdering his 30-year-old partner Yip Tsz-ching at their 700 sq ft flat in Galore Garden in Hung Shui Kiu four years ago.
But the panel unanimously convicted Ng of manslaughter, after the jury was asked to decide if Ng was guilty of the lesser offence in case they cleared him of murder.
Mrs Justice Judianna Barnes said the verdict showed the jury believed Ng’s contention might be true that he accidentally beat Yip to death while she underwent an intensive diet.
She noted a defendant’s risk of reoffending in a case of this nature was “extremely low”, but added she would need more information about Ng’s character before sentencing.
The court will hear mitigation submissions on Monday.
The crime came to light after Ng was seen pulling a wheelboard carrying Yip’s body, wrapped in a quilt and layers of plastic film and adhesive tape, along Tin Ha Road early on April 29, 2022.
A couple jogging in the area called police after seeing a human leg protruding from the rolled-up quilt.

Forensic examinations found the deceased, who was 1.59 metres (5 feet 2 inches) tall and weighed 64kg (141lbs) at the time of her death, had suffered extensive corrosive burns covering 55 per cent of her body.
She had also sustained multiple bruises, abrasions and lacerations to her head and other parts of her body, which were likely caused by blunt force, such as being punched and kicked by others.
An autopsy identified her cause of death as suffocation following head injuries and extensive burns on her chest, abdomen and limbs.
In a police interview, Ng said his partner was on a diet and that he had been helping her lose weight by assaulting her to prevent her from sleeping.
He said Yip had been barred from leaving the flat for three months and deprived of sleep for more than 10 days before the incident.
Ng admitted beating his partner intermittently using a rod from the night of April 27, but insisted that he did so only to keep her awake.
He also claimed that the deceased had a tendency to harm herself, alleging she splashed a bottle of drain cleaner on herself that night “for fun”.
In the witness box, Ng said Yip’s “sworn” sister – whose family shared the flat with the couple – asked him to assault Yip after the deceased was accused of eating without permission during a diet.
The defendant said he was forced to submit to the orders by the sworn sister and her husband – only identified in the trial as Ah Long – who had abused him on multiple occasions.
He removed his upper garments at one point in his testimony to show the jurors the scars on his body, which he said were inflicted by Ah Long burning him with a drain cleaner-infused cotton bud.
Ng said he was “very scared” when he realised Yip was dead on the morning of April 28.
“I didn’t know why she was dead. My mind went blank. I didn’t know what to do,” he said. “I embraced her in my arms and told her that I’m sorry.”
Ah Long, according to the accused, suggested that he dispose of Yip’s body either by burial, cremation or dismemberment, but Ng found none of the options feasible.
Ng said he eventually decided to carry Yip’s quilt-wrapped body to the streets, hoping to surrender himself to police.
Prosecutors argued the defendant did not reveal the whole truth in court, pointing out that he displayed no concern for his girlfriend’s well-being even though she was visibly in pain on the night before her death.
Ng pleaded guilty to preventing the lawful burial of Yip’s body before the trial. He also offered to plead guilty to manslaughter, which was not accepted by the prosecution.
Ng’s three flatmates – Tsoi Chi-long, 35, his wife Cheng Pui-man, 31, and Chan Wing-hong, 33 – were also charged with preventing the lawful burial of Yip’s body and remanded in custody in May 2022.
They were released in December 2023 after prosecutors dropped the charge against them.


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Ng Ka-sing (centre) was arrested in 2022. Photo: Yik Yeung-man


A High Court jury has ruled that Ng Ka-sing, 29, was not guilty of murdering his 30-year-old partner. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Man ‘mistakenly beat girlfriend to death while trying to help her lose weight’

Ng Ka-sing (centre) was arrested in 2022. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Boy, 5, starved to death was half normal weight for age, Hong Kong court told

Police officers stand guard outside the residential flat where the boy died. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

News

Hong Kong

Law and Crime

Jury acquits Ng Ka-sing of murder, accepting defence that he may have accidentally killed girlfriend


Jury acquits Ng Ka-sing of murder, accepting defence that he may have accidentally killed girlfriend.


Crime in Hong Kong

Hongkonger cleared of murder but guilty of manslaughter after weight-loss beating

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Jury acquits Ng Ka-sing of murder, accepting defence that he may have accidentally killed girlfriend

Jury acquits Ng Ka-sing of murder, accepting defence that he may have accidentally killed girlfriend