Woman in Hong Kong body-in-cement murder trial was tipped off about plans to kill her, court hears

Ho Ling-yu was told by one defendant that another flatmate was planning to ‘sell her off’ – murder her – in Taiwan

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Keith Lau (centre top with glasses); and Cheung Sin-hang (centre bottom) being escorted away from Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre.

Published: 9:55pm, 13 Apr 2018Updated: 11:30pm, 13 Apr 2018

A young woman was tipped off that one of her three flatmates accused of the “body-in-cement” murder also wanted to “sell her off” – kill her – a Hong Kong court heard on Friday.

The revelation came from a transcript of a police interview with the woman, Ho Ling-yu, 20.

One of the trio had warned Ho about another flatmate’s plans after the defendants forced her to flee with them to Taiwan, according to the transcript read out in a High Court trial that has seen the three co-accused pitting themselves against one another.

The three flatmates, Tsang Cheung-yan, 28, Keith Lau, 23, and Cheung Sin-hang, 25, are on trial for the murder of their acquaintance Cheung Man-li, 28, on March 4, 2016 at their flat in the DAN6 industrial building in Tsuen Wan.

Prosecutors said there was evidence showing Tsang had owed the deceased, also known as Ah J, money. They said Tsang had also told others they would get a US$30 million (HK$234 million) reward for killing Cheung. After the alleged killing, they fled with Ho to Taiwan, and were arrested on their return to Hong Kong.