香港特別行政區 訴 胡詠東

香港特別行政區 訴 胡詠東

Court held that where a defendant advances a defence alleging the complainant fabricated allegations and evidence (including messages) supports that assertion, the trial judge should, depending on the facts, direct the jury that approaches to a complaining witness to induce withdrawal may be lawful if not by...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
香港特別行政區 訴 胡詠東
Parties
Appellant: WU WING TUNG (胡詠東); Respondent: HKSAR (香港特別行政區)
Court
Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction
Hong Kong
Judgment Date
27 October 2016
Case Number
CACC132/2015
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal Against Conviction and Sentence / Appeal to Court of Appeal (criminal Appeal No. CACC 132/2015)
Outcome
Appeal against conviction on count 3 dismissed; appeal against sentence on count 3 allowed in part
Legal Topics
Perverting Course of Justice, Obstruction of Justice, Rape, Assault, Jury Directions, Contacting Witnesses
Source Language
ch
Criminal Law Evidence Sentencing Appeals Procedure Perverting Course of Justice Obstruction of Justice Rape +3 more

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Parties

WU WING TUNG (胡詠東)

Appellant

HKSAR (香港特別行政區)

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Criminal Appeal Against Conviction and Sentence / Appeal to Court of Appeal (criminal Appeal No. CACC 132/2015)

  1. 1 Whether the trial judge should have directed the jury that approaching a complainant to retract or change a complaint may be lawful if not by unlawful or improper means (Wong Chi Wai issue)
  2. 2 Whether the conviction for perverting the course of justice (count 3) is safe given the judge's directions and the jury's mixed findings on counts 1 and 2
  3. 3 Whether the sentence for perverting the course of justice was excessive given the acquittal on the rape charge and the relative seriousness of the substantive offence

Ratio Decidendi

Court held that where a defendant advances a defence alleging the complainant fabricated allegations and evidence (including messages) supports that assertion, the trial judge should, depending on the facts, direct the jury that approaches to a complaining witness to induce withdrawal may be lawful if not by unlawful or improper means (Wong Chi Wai principle); although the trial judge failed to give that specific direction, the jury's verdict convicting count 3 was nonetheless safe on the evidence because the jury could properly find the defendant sought to prevent the complainant giving a statement about the assault; however the sentence for perverting the course of justice required...

Court Disposition

Appeal against conviction on count 3 dismissed; appeal against sentence on count 3 allowed in part

Orders

  • Conviction on count 3 (perverting the course of justice) upheld
  • Sentence on count 3 reduced to 15 months' imprisonment