Unemployed man on trial for murder after fatal iron bar attack over $800 bike debt in Tin Shui Wai

A 51-year-old unemployed man went on trial in Hong Kong’s High Court on Tuesday, accused of murdering a 58-year-old acquaintance two days after striking him with an iron bar during a dispute over an HK$800 debt for a second-hand bicycle.

The defendant, Wong Koon-ming, denies murdering Law on October 31, 2022, in Tin Shui Wai. 

Prosecutors told the seven-member jury that the pair knew each other through bicycle repairs. Wong had paid for a used bike on Law’s behalf but claimed Law later ignored him, blocked his number and refused to repay the HK$800.

Frustrated after failed attempts to contact Law, Wong visited Law’s Tin Shui Wai flat three times between October 28 and 29. 

The first two visits ended in arguments. On the third occasion, Law allegedly swore at Wong and showed signs of aggression. Wong said he picked up an iron bar from a nearby rubbish room for self-protection.

Security camera footage from Tin Yan Estate and nearby Yuen Long showed Wong entering and leaving the building. Dashcam and eyewitness video captured the confrontation.

The clips recorded shouting, clashing metal sounds and the pair swinging iron bars at each other. 

Wong struck Law, who collapsed backward, hit his head on the ground, and lay motionless. Wong threw the bar down, checked on Law briefly then fled.

In a police interview, Wong admitted going to demand repayment but insisted he had no intent to kill. He said he struck Law once after feeling threatened, saw him fall suddenly, and panicked, leaving the scene without helping or calling police. 

He noted injuries to his own head, arm and back, claiming self-defense and explaining he took the iron bar home afterward.

Forensic experts testified that Law died from traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by blunt force trauma to the head. 

Law suffered a 15 cm skull fracture, including linear and displaced breaks, deep scalp abrasions, bruising and diastatic skull fracture.

The doctor ruled out spontaneous or medical causes, confirming the fatal bleeding resulted from severe impact by a blunt object, not a sharp weapon.

Although Law survived initially with emergency treatment including intubation and ventilation, brain swelling from the hemorrhage led to death two days later. The court heard head injuries of this severity could take days to become fatal despite medical support.