Security footage shows democracy activist Howard Lam was walking alone freely at the time of alleged 2017 kidnapping, Hong Kong court told
- Defence lawyer argues that the officers who examined the videos are not experts in gait study
Hong Kong police found democracy activist Howard Lam Tsz-kin travelling by himself at a time when he claimed to have been abducted, after identifying him by his walking manner and appearance through repeatedly watching 1,800 hours of security footage, a court heard on Monday.
Two officers testified to studying Lam’s appearance, built and gait and comparing them with videos showing a man in black walking with his toes pointing inward to conclude they were the same person after multiple viewings.
The defence called such methods of identification unprecedented in the city’s courts and complained that none of the officers were experts in gait study or identification.
Lam also interrupted the hearing multiple times, laughing and even slapping his palm on the bar table while sarcastically exclaiming in Cantonese: “You’ve faked it to this extent?”
Acting chief magistrate So Wai-tak eventually sided with prosecutors to allow the admission of the officers’ opinionated evidence.
The West Kowloon Court heard the identification helped police trace Lam’s movements from August 10, 2017 to the following morning, using videos sourced from streets, stores, lifts and lobbies across Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei, Sai Kung and Ma On Shan.