Man who bit off councilor's ear in Taikoo Shing gets 14.5 years in jail

A jobless man who attacked a couple with a knife and bit off the left ear of former Democratic Party district councilor Andrew Chiu Ka-yin in Tai Koo Shing during the 2019 unrest was on Tuesday sentenced to 14.5 years in jail at the High Court.  

A High Court jury of three men and four women had on December 8 last year convicted Joe Chen, 51, of the attack outside Cityplaza mall following directions from high court judge Judianna Barnes Wai-ling.

The charges included three counts of wounding with intent for biting off former Eastern district councilor Chiu's ear and stabbing Louis Wan Ho-lun and his wife, Leung Pik-kei, outside Cityplaza mall at Taikoo Shing on November 3, 2019.  

Chen was also convicted on a count of common assault on Leung's cousin, Leung Ying-ying.  

Read more: Man guilty of biting off councilor's ear remanded pending victim trauma reports  

Passing sentence, Barnes described Chen’s actions of biting Chiu's ear off as savage, also noting that any attempt to surgically reattach the ear failed, with Chan now unable to wear an ear-loop face mask.

In mitigation, the defense counsel said Chen would like to sincerely apologize to the four victims, adding that he regretted leaving indelible scars on them.  

The defense counsel noted that Chen has been under emotional distress since 2004 after his business failed and has been living on savings at Taikoo Shing with his wife and their autistic daughter.

He has been living with depression for more than 17 years and was on medication for it. He first underwent psychiatric treatment in 2012 and was last checked in September 2019.  

The defense counsel also presented a letter from Chen’s wife, saying that Chen had never laid hands on her in the past 30 years, not even while drunk.  

Barnes immediately questioned the wife’s statement, noting that she had previously filed a police report claiming she one day woke up to Chen holding a knife to her neck, suspecting the wife of concealing the truth.  

Separately, the defense counsel said Chen had settled Chiu’s civil claim out of court, compensating Chiu HK$1.9 million, while the settlement of other victims’ civil claims out of court was currently underway.  

Chen previously pleaded not guilty to all charges, with him testifying to drinking about three glasses of Chinese white wine – known as baijiu – and three cans of Kirin beer that night before leaving home for a sauna to get rid of the smell of alcohol.  

He told the High Court that he had no recollection of the attacks on his way home, because his mind went blank moments after a man and two women allegedly harassed him as they responded to a throwaway comment he made in their direction.

Previous stories: 

Blood and rage recounted in Cityplaza horror attack (Nov 16, 2021) 

Court hears of 'mainland guy' provocation (Nov 17, 2021)