Punch-drunk duo in fighting mood

A 49-year-old housewife who slapped a man after calling protesters "cockroaches" was sentenced to community service alongside her husband.

Atta Kong Wing-hung was ordered to perform 180 hours of community service, while construction worker Li Chiu-wai, 38, got 100 hours.

The couple appeared before Kwun Tong magistrate Ivy Chui Yee-mei for sentencing yesterday.

However, Kong called reporters "cockroaches" as the couple left court, during which one of her companions bumped into a reporter, causing the journalist's glasses to fall.

Kong earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of common assault and three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm last month, while Li pleaded guilty to common assault.

On August 28, Kong shouted at protesters at Sheung Tak Plaza in Tseung Kwan O, calling them "cockroaches" while drunk.

A passerby confronted her but was slapped and shoved in the chest by Kong.Four other passersby were also slapped by Kong after trying to stop the dispute.

Li then joined Kong and ended up punching one of the passersby. Four males and one female, aged 19 to 58, were injured.

The defense said Kong had only committed the offense under the influence of alcohol. It also said Li sought to pull Kong away, but failed.

The court accepted that Kong committed the crime without premeditation and taking into account that the victims were only slightly injured, went for a social service sentence on the advice of the probation officer.

In another case before the magistrate, a 37-year-old computer products store manager, Chan Wai-kit, pleaded guilty to careless driving and resisting a police officer.

Chui said it was a serious offense that merited prison considerations.

The defense said Chan's wife had a miscarriage as a result of the incident and that he is the family's breadwinner.

The court heard that at the start of last August, Chan stopped his car at the roundabout on Po Lam Road North at night, which a police officer deemed suspicious.

The officer walked to the driver's side and asked Chan to alight, but he did not respond.

As the officer reached through the window to try and turn off the engine, Chan accelerated, causing the officer to fall.

The officer caught up with Chan, but the 37-year-old resisted and tried to escape, injuring the officer's left arm.

The case was adjourned to August 24 for sentencing.