Dad convicted of murder after shaking 3-year-old daughter to death

A 42-year-old father was found guilty of murdering his 3-year-old daughter, who died after being shaken violently, in a unanimous verdict by the jury on Thursday.

High Court Judge Anna Lai Yuen-kee, who presides over the case, adjourned his sentencing hearing to next Wednesday.

Defendant Lau Kai-ping was accused of murdering his daughter, Leung Ah-sze, who died in 2020 from acute brain bleeding believed to be the result of violent shaking.

The court also heard about Lau’s abusive behavior towards the girl, including showering her with cold water, and holding her upside down before crashing her head to the ground.

Before the jurors began deliberation, the judge reminded them that if they were convinced that the defendant understood that shaking the victim would almost certainly result in her death or severe injury, they could infer that the defendant had the relevant intent.

She also reminded the jury that even if they felt outraged by the crime, they must still base their judgment objectively on the evidence.

The prosecution described the defendant as extremely egocentric and selfish, accusing him of physically assaulting her daughter in the name of parenting.

The defense argued that Lau and his girlfriend were unprepared for parenthood and claimed that violence was an occasional occurrence in their household, stating that while they sometimes fought, they were also loving at other times.

Lau had earlier pleaded guilty to child abuse before the trial began.

(Jamie Liu)