Hong Kong jury convicts one, acquits six in landmark UN anti-terrorism trial


- Illustrative photo.

HONG KONG: (Reuters) A Hong Kong jury on Thursday (Aug 29) convicted one person and acquitted six others over an alleged plan to detonate explosives and use firearms against police during 2019 protest in the city, in a landmark case under the United Nations Anti-Terrorism Ordinance.

Lai Chun-pong, 30, was the only one found guilty with the jury finding the other six members of the group, Lee Ka-tin, 25, Cheung Chun-fu, 24, Cheung Ming-yu, 21, Yim Man-him, 22, Justin Hui Cham-wing, 25, and Lau Pui-ying, 24, not guilty.

The prosecution alleged they were members of a group known as the 'Dragon Slayers'.

The trial marked the first time the UN anti-terrorism act was enacted in Hong Kong.

High Court Judge Judianna Barnes told the nine person jury that they had to determine whether each defendant intended to kill police after they were charged with plotting to bomb key targets and kill police officers five years ago.

Hong Kong, which returned from British to Chinese rule in 1997, saw a wave of often violent anti-government protests in 2019 over a now shelved extradition bill. - Reuters

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