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Jasmine Siu

Neither alcohol nor cocaine use diminished a British banker’s responsibility for killing two Indonesian women in 2014, according to a psychiatrist whose evidence on Wednesday was described as absurd and contradictory by the defence.
The argument emerged on the seventh day of the murder trial in the High Court as prosecutors sought to refute Rurik Jutting’s argument of diminished responsibility as a defence for the unlawful killings of Sumarti Ningsih, 23, and Seneng Mujiasih, 26.
The Briton, 31, has denied both murder charges.
Mental disorders impaired Hong Kong double murder suspect’s ability to control actions, court hears in Rurik Jutting trial
Like the two defence psychiatrists, Dr Kavin Chow Kit-wan, for the prosecution, diagnosed Jutting with three disorders: stimulant use, alcohol use and sexual sadism.
But she disagreed on whether his narcissism – shown in his lack of empathy and eagerness to dominate relationships – amounted to a disorder, and further concluded that he had exhibited traits of psychopathy, such as superficial charm and limited remorse or guilt for his behaviour.
She said the “disinhibiting effects of cocaine and alcohol exaggerated [Jutting’s] propensity to act out fantasies and impaired control, which subsequently led to the killings of these two victims”.
But this impairment, she said, did not amount to being “substantial” – a threshold required for the defence to argue diminished responsibility.
Rurik Jutting double murder trial hears work stress caused Hong Kong banker’s life to spiral out of control
Defence counsel Tim Owen QC asked in response: “What, Dr Chow, is your definition of substantial?”
“Substantial, from my view, is more than trivial, less than total impairment,” the psychiatrist replied. “In Mr Jutting’s case, although his control was impaired by disinhibiting effects of alcohol and cocaine, all evidence ... suggests he did understand the nature and consequences of the killings.
“Whether it is trivial is a matter for the jury to decide,” she added.
But Owen questioned how his client could have controlled his intake when his substance use showed dependence, tolerance and craving.
Chow said even a severe disorder would allow the ability to control one’s intake.
Dr Chow, with all my respect, your evidence is absurd, contradictory. Have you ever given evidence for the defence?
Defence counsel Tim Owen
“Dr Chow, with all my respect, your evidence is absurd, contradictory. Have you ever given evidence for the defence?” Owen asked. Chow said no.
Meanwhile, another psychiatrist for the prosecution, Dr Oliver Chan, testified that it would be difficult for Jutting to resist the craving. “But it would not deprive him of the ability to resist it,” he said.
Chan was confident that Jutting’s ability to control his function was not substantially impaired.
A line in his report read: “He should, despite the craving and dependence, be capable” of stopping cravings.
But Owen pointed out that the exact line also appeared in Chow’s report. “Is the jury to conclude that it’s a coincidence?” he asked. Chan replied the reports were prepared separately.
He, unlike the three other experts, did not find Jutting suffered from sexual sadism disorder as he found that the Briton’s sexual interest had yet to affect his functioning.
“You are,” Owen said, “an incredibly arrogant man .... Graduated and qualified in 2013, first case of sexual homicide. You think they are all wrong.
“Do you regard a man who spends almost 24 hours a day reading hardcore pornography as someone operating normally?” he asked. Chan replied no.
It emerged from Chan’s evidence that Jutting picked small Asian girls because they would be easier to handle, and that he had also said he loved Sumarti just before he slit her throat.
‘I was in a state of extreme sexual aggression,’ British banker Rurik Jutting tells police in video shown on trial’s fourth day
The court heard that Jutting’s cocaine use increased to up to 20 grams a day the month before the killings as he became acquainted with a drug dealer who could provide him with the drug whenever he wanted it.
He was also consuming two to three cans of Red Bull and a bottle of spirits every day, which later became two bottles closer to the killings.
“From the evidence I had, I don’t think Mr Jutting had tried to control [himself],” Chow said.
Reading from her report, prosecutor John Reading SC further revealed that Jutting continued to masturbate daily and still had fantasies of rape and kidnap even while he was remanded at Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre after his arrest.
She was told that he respected sex workers and engaged in rough sex only with those who consented – until he met the first victim, Sumarti, whom he treated as an instrument.
The court also heard for the first time that he conducted an experiment on Sumarti to see if she accepted death by tying a towel around her neck.
When she did not resist, he killed the Indonesian as he felt in control and that he was no longer excited.
Jutting had no criminal record. But he did admit to the psychiatrist that he stole books from a Cambridge bookstore 15 to 20 times.
The trial continues before deputy High Court judge Mr Justice Michael Stuart-Moore.


November 1, 2014: Expat banker Rurik Jutting arrested over murder of 2 women

Hong Kong barrister Gerard McCoy, who liked a challenge and defended dissidents and murderers, dies aged 63

British double murderer Rurik Jutting has appeal bid dismissed by Hong Kong’s top court

British double murderer Rurik Jutting loses bid to take appeal to Hong Kong’s top court

Rurik Jutting

Responsibility of British banker accused of killing two women not diminished by alcohol or cocaine,  Hong Kong court hears

Psychiatrists Dr Oliver Chan (left) and Dr Kavin Chow, who said Jutting had exhibited traits of psychopathy, such as superficial charm and limited remorse or guilt for his behaviour. Photo: Edmond So

Rurik Jutting double murder trial hears work stress caused Hong Kong banker’s life to spiral out of control

Rurik Jutting appears at Eastern Court, Sai Wan Ho, back in 2015. Photo: Felix Wong

Richard Latham appears at the High Court in Admiralty for Jutting murder case. 01NOV16 SCMP/ David Wong

Rurik Jutting being sent to the High Court in Admiralty. 01NOV16 SCMP / David Wong

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But defence counsel calls evidence given by Hong Kong psychiatrist absurd and contradictory


Responsibility of British banker accused of killing two women not diminished by alcohol or cocaine, Hong Kong court hears

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}But defence counsel calls evidence given by Hong Kong psychiatrist absurd and contradictory

But defence counsel calls evidence given by Hong Kong psychiatrist absurd and contradictory