Witness in Hong Kong body-in-cement murder trial changed statement under police influence, defence lawyer charges

He says Ho Ling-yu first accused one man of preparing chloroform-soaked panties used in the alleged murder but later pointed the finger at his client

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Prosecution witness Ho Ling-yu (centre), 20, is accused of changing her statement under police influence. Photo: Nora Tam

Published: 8:00pm, 16 Apr 2018Updated: 10:33pm, 16 Apr 2018

The young woman testifying against three men charged with killing their acquaintance and encasing his body in cement was on Monday accused by a defence lawyer of changing her witness statement under police influence.

Defence counsel Keith Oderberg, acting for one of the defendants, Keith Lau, said Ho Ling-yu initially told police it was Lau’s co-accused, Tsang Cheung-yan, who prepared a pair of chloroform-soaked panties used in the alleged murder.

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

But the 20-year-old subsequently changed her mind and accused his client of pouring chloroform on the panties, Oderberg said.

Lau, 23, Tsang, 28 and Cheung Sin-hang, 25, have denied murdering Cheung Man-li, 28, also known as Ah J, for money in a Tsuen Wan flat on March 4, 2016.

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

Ho was the three defendants’ flatmate at Flat 9D in the DAN6 industrial building. She has been granted immunity from prosecution in exchange for being a witness.