Don't let feelings sway you, jury told in Nina Wang forgery case

The jury that is to decide today whether Peter Chan Chun-chuen is guilty of forging late tycoon Nina Wang Kung Yu-sum's will must put aside any personal feelings, they were told by the judge yesterday.

Mr Justice Andrew Macrae told the eight-member jury in the Court of First Instance that while some aspects of the evidence presented to the court might have made them feel annoyed or angry, inspired sympathy or antipathy, the jurors should not be swayed by these feelings. "This is a court of law. Such feelings would distract you," he said. "It's not a court of morals concerned with moral conduct."

While the judge did not refer to any specific evidence presented, the court earlier heard statements from Chan describing intimate details of his relationship with Wang. A video recording was also played in court, showing the pair kissing as Chan ran his hands over Wang's body.

Once Asia's richest woman, Wang died of cancer in 2007 at the age of 70.

Chan has pleaded not guilty to forgery and using a false instrument. He is accused of forging a will dated 2006, purportedly created by Wang.

Chan tried unsuccessfully to use the document to claim Wang's HK$83 billion fortune in a drawn-out probate battle with the Chinachem Charitable Foundation, which she set up.