Hong Kong Case Law: Decisions & Judgments | LexChat

Hong Kong Case Law

Mere presence
  • 30 May 2025

    HKSAR v. ENRIQUEZ ANNA MAE JUSTIMBASTE

    Citation
    [2025] HKCA 520
    Court
    Court of Appeal
    Case number
    CACC94/2022

    Conviction quashed because the evidence against the appellant was essentially her mere presence and association with co-defendants, the trial judge failed to identify primary facts and to direct the jury that mere presence without more cannot sustain an inference of participation in a conspiracy, making the conviction unsafe; in the circumstances a retrial was not in the interests of justice.