The Hong Kong government, which is closely scrutinising the Philippine inquiries into last month's bungled hostage rescue, will soon face scrutiny at home for its own investigation of a police controversy.
The High Court announced that it would conduct a judicial review of the investigation into the death of a homeless Nepali man, Dil Bahadur Limbu, who was shot dead by a police officer in March last year.
The court agreed to the review after his widow, Sony Rai, alleged bias and missteps by Coroner William Ng Sing-wai, who led the inquest. A jury found Limbu's death to be a 'lawful killing' in May this year.
In an application for the review, Rai's lawyer alleged bias by the coroner, arguing that he improperly limited the scope of the inquest and refused to admit pertinent evidence, including a report by a pathologist said to raise questions about the constable's account of the shooting.
Rai, who lives in Hong Kong with the couple's young daughter, welcomed the decision, according to her lawyer, Michael Vidler. 'She considers it the first step in getting the justice that she believes is due,' he said. 'She repeats her call for a proper inquest and an independent commission of inquiry to make sure this kind of thing never happens again.'
Limbu was shot dead by police constable Hui Ka-ki on a Ho Man Tin hillside on March 17 last year.
