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Brian Wong

A man on trial in Hong Kong over the death of his girlfriend has insisted he had no intention to kill when he assaulted her after a Christmas party more than three years ago.
Bernie Macatangay Valencia, 45, admitted on Friday before a High Court jury that he unlawfully killed Ivy Villaluz Quiabang, 40, after punching her in the head at a subdivided flat in Wan Chai’s Stone Nullah Lane on December 22, 2021.
But the man’s lawyers argued he did not intend to kill or inflict serious bodily harm when he committed the “dangerous” act.
“I plead not guilty to murder, but I plead guilty to manslaughter,” the defendant said during the arraignment.
In her opening statement, Senior Public Prosecutor Human Lam Hiu-man said an argument ensued between Valencia and Quiabang after they returned to their flat from the Christmas party.
The altercation later turned violent and ended with the defendant landing several punches on the woman’s head, the court heard.
Lam said Quiabang was “visibly injured”, with bruises all over her face, adding she was unable to get up or eat properly.
The deceased’s condition subsequently worsened to the point that she experienced incontinence, according to the prosecution.
“It must have been very obvious to the defendant that something was seriously wrong with Ivy. However, the defendant never called an ambulance or 999 to help Ivy. He waited until December 23 when he asked other tenants at the subdivided flat to take a look at Ivy in their room,” she said.
Quiabang was already in a coma by the time police arrived at the scene, the prosecutor said.
Valencia, a Filipino national, allegedly told a paramedic and a police officer that his girlfriend was “sleeping” while hiding the fact that he had assaulted her on the head.
The woman never regained consciousness before she died on January 2, 2022. An autopsy attributed her cause of death to brain damage.
Lam said her side would substantiate its case by relying on the court statements of 18 witnesses, as well as surveillance camera footage, social media messages retrieved from the defendant’s digital devices and an hour-long interview he had with investigators.
The trial before Mr Justice William Tam Yiu-ho and a seven-member jury is expected to last 12 days.


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The High Court in Admiralty. Photo: Warton Li

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Hong Kong

Law and Crime

‘I plead not guilty to murder, but I plead guilty to manslaughter,’ defendant says


‘I plead not guilty to murder, but I plead guilty to manslaughter,’ defendant says.


Crime in Hong Kong

Crime

Hong Kong society