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Amy Nip

Police last night expressed regret over the treatment of an autistic man wrongly charged with manslaughter, but stopped short of a formal apology.
The 30-year-old autistic man was arrested on May 2 on suspicion of killing a 73-year-old man in a basketball court in Mei Lam Estate, Sha Tin.
Police laid a holding charge of manslaughter on May 4, but dropped it hours later because he had an alibi.
The statement, issued at 11.30pm, came hours after a social welfare group said it had in fact provided officers with details of the suspect’s activities, including CCTV footage, from the day of the alleged killing before the charges were laid.
It did not state whether the information constituted an alibi, but the news raised further questions about the police’s handling of the case.
“When police were investigating this murder case, a serious crime, unpleasant experiences were brought to the person in question and his family during the truth-seeking process,” the police statement read.
“The force feels regretful. Police are very concerned about the difficulties faced by the person and his family now.”
Earlier yesterday, the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council said the man was a member of its home for people with a mild intellectual disability.
It said police visited the home in the morning on May 3. At that time, staff provided officers with records of the man’s daily activities, along with CCTV footage from the day of the crime.
A police commander also said yesterday that the force was carrying out an internal review of the man’s arrest, after his family criticised their handling of the case.
The review will include topics such as whether police should seek professional assistance when taking statements from people with mental disabilities, and how their medical needs should be catered to, said Nelson Lui Hon-kwok, the regional commander of New Territories South, on RTHK radio yesterday.
Police guidelines say statements should be taken from mentally incapacitated people in the company of a family member or guardian.
“On top of the existing arrangement, we will look into whether to seek assistance from professionals,” Lui said.
Lui earlier on Monday defended the decision to make a holding charge, saying manslaughter was a serious crime. But he admitted there was room for improvement, especially on catering to prisoners' medical needs.
When asked whether the police would apologise, he said any comment would come after the review.
"I understand his feelings as well as his family's. I wish them well, and I hope they can put the unhappy experience behind them as soon as possible and go back to their normal lives."
The police took his statement in a suggestive manner, and did not help the man take medicine during his two-day detention, his older brother, surnamed Au, said last Saturday.
Au said his autistic brother did not have good communication skills, and was unlikely to have answered police questions in complete sentences as recorded on the police statement.
The family said they wanted an apology. "I thank Mr Lui for his best wishes," the mother of the 30-year-old autistic man said. "I want the police to carry out a sincere review, not to use this as an excuse to cover up their mistakes."
Today, the family will meet the media again and play footage showing how the police took the man's statement. It is supposed to show the man's limited communication with the police, and how it was different from a written statement made by officers.
Meanwhile, 21 pan-democratic lawmakers signed a petition criticising the police handling of the case. They demanded an apology and follow-up action.
“There are about 160,000 mentally incapacitated people, including 70,000 to 100,000 people with intellectual disabilities. It is important to see their needs and rights safeguarded during law enforcement,” the petition read.
The murder case remains unsolved.
 


No apology as Hong Kong police express 'regret' over mistaken arrest of autistic man

Police came under fire for wrongly accusing a 30-year-old man with autism and a mild intellectual disability of manslaughter. Photo: SCMP

Family of autistic man held by Hong Kong police plans to file complaint

The autistic man was held for some 50 hours. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Arrest of autistic man shows that this time Hong Kong police got it wrong

Internal guidelines state that police shall, as far as practicable, take statements from mentally incapacitated people in the presence of a guardian, relative, social worker or someone from outside the force. Photo: Sam Tsang

News

Hong Kong

Law and Crime

Police last night expressed regret over the treatment of an autistic man wrongly charged with manslaughter, but stopped short of a formal apology. 


No apology as Hong Kong police express 'regret' over mistaken arrest of autistic man

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Police last night expressed regret over the treatment of an autistic man wrongly charged with manslaughter, but stopped short of a formal apology.

Police last night expressed regret over the treatment of an autistic man wrongly charged with manslaughter, but stopped short of a formal apology.