On October 1, 2019, road blockages and clashes between police and civilians occurred in multiple districts. Many people were arrested in the clashes along Nathan Road, and nine of them denied charges such as riots.
The case opened in West Kowloon Court today (3rd). The prosecution pointed out that the first defendant was one of the frontline demonstrators who had thrown petrol bombs at the police station. The prosecution also pointed out that the defendants were subdued and arrested when, where, and how each was arrested. Their clothing and equipment are enough to infer that they all participated in the riot that day.
The prosecution applied for an anonymous order for nine of the police officers attached to the special mission company squad, which was approved by Zhang Jieyi, the Deputy Judge of the District Court.
Nine defendants: Luo Weiluo (26 years old, exhibition site worker), Li Cuiting (19 years old), He Shanhang (19 years old, student), Yang Rentao (21 years old, sound worker), Fang Yingwen (25 years old), Song Zhaopeng (24 years old, Student), Lei Jianchang (29 years old, maintenance engineer), Huang Yanyuan (23 years old, Ocean Park staff), and Chen Wenze (19 years old, transportation worker), were also charged with one riot, alleging that they were charged on October 1, 2019. A section of Nathan Road between Tsim Sha Tsui Police Station and Cheung Lok Street, along with others, participated in the riot.
Among them, six defendants including Luo, He, Fang, Song, Lei, and Chen were each charged with one count of possession of offensive weapons in public places, alleging that they were in possession of telescopic sticks, jackknifes, modified iron rods, and catapults. Li was also charged with possession of an offensive weapon, namely possession of a pair of handcuffs; Yang was charged with possession of objects with intent to damage property, that is, possession of a handcuff. Spana and martial arts.
On the day of the incident, demonstrators threw petrol bombs outside the Tsim Sha Tsui Police Station.
(See the picture below for details)
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Demonstrators set fire in Tsim Sha Tsui and Jordan
The prosecution’s opening statement stated that a large number of demonstrators assembled at Nathan Road near Jordan Road and other places at 3 o’clock in the afternoon to carry out large-scale sabotage operations, including arson in Tsim Sha Tsui and destruction of Jordan Station’s B1 exit, causing the surrounding area traffic congestion.
At 4 o'clock, about 300 demonstrators including the second defendant Li Chuiting travelled from Nathan Road to Tsim Sha Tsui and assembled at the junction of Nathan Road near Austin Road.
Someone dropped petrol bombs at buildings near the police station
Later, violent actions by demonstrators escalated, and the first petrol bomb was dropped on a building near the Tsim Sha Tsui Police Station.
The police immediately displayed flags and used loudspeakers to warn and fired tear gas. The demonstrators retreated. However, 10 demonstrators continued to gather around Nathan Road.
At 4:20, seven frontline demonstrators, including the first defendant, Luo Weiluo, approached the police station again to throw hard objects and petrol bombs. The conflict lasted for at least 20 minutes.
The defendant was arrested in civilization
The police later set up a line of defense at the junction of Jordan Road and Nathan Road, displayed flags and issued verbal warnings, but the protesters refused to disperse and even damaged nearby banks and coffee shops.
The police then advanced towards Mong Kok and dispersed along Nathan Road.
At 4:56, the police advanced to Nathan Road near Wenming Lane, and 9 defendants in this case were arrested on the spot.
The prosecution alleges that the defendant was dressed and equipped with sufficient evidence that he had participated in the riot
The prosecution stated that the court had sufficient evidence to conclude that all the defendants were personally involved in the time, place and process of each defendant’s uniform and arrest, their respective clothing and equipment, and some of the defendants’ response to the police’s advancement and arrest operations. Riot, or assist or abet other people to commit riot crimes.
The trial continued.
Case number: DCCC 410/2020, DCCC 35/2020
