香港特別行政區 訴 湯惠鵬

香港特別行政區 訴 湯惠鵬

The renewed application for leave was dismissed because the trial judge fairly and comprehensively directed the jury on the DNA evidence (including secondary transfer), the admissibility and limited purpose of the phone evidence, and the credibility conflict about the applicant's utterance; on the facts the jury had...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2021] HKCA 732
Parties
Respondent: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Applicant: Tang Huipeng
Court
Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction
Hong Kong
Judgment Date
26 May 2021
Case Number
CACC255/2019
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Renewal of Leave to Appeal Against Conviction
Outcome
renewed application for leave to appeal against conviction dismissed; conviction and sentence stand
Legal Topics
Drug Trafficking, DNA Evidence, Secondary Transfer, Hearsay, Jury Directions, Conviction Sufficiency
Source Language
ch
Criminal Law Evidence Appellate Procedure Drug Trafficking DNA Evidence Secondary Transfer Hearsay Jury Directions +1 more

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Parties

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

Respondent

Tang Huipeng

Applicant

Procedural Posture

Criminal Appeal / Renewal of Leave to Appeal Against Conviction

  1. 1 Whether the trial judge adequately directed the jury on the significance of DNA found on the drug‑bag and the possibility of secondary (indirect) DNA transfer
  2. 2 Whether the deleted SMS shown on a mobile phone constituted inadmissible hearsay or admissible evidence of the fact the message was sent and linked the co‑accused to the phone
  3. 3 Whether the applicant's utterance on being stopped justified an adverse inference of knowledge of the drugs

Ratio Decidendi

The renewed application for leave was dismissed because the trial judge fairly and comprehensively directed the jury on the DNA evidence (including secondary transfer), the admissibility and limited purpose of the phone evidence, and the credibility conflict about the applicant's utterance; on the facts the jury had a sufficient basis to reach the only reasonable inference of guilty knowledge and joint trafficking, so the conviction is safe.

Court Disposition

renewed application for leave to appeal against conviction dismissed; conviction and sentence stand

Orders

  • Renewed leave to appeal against conviction dismissed
  • No order made under Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Cap.221) s83W to exclude time spent in custody awaiting appeal