Hong Kong man cleared of murder after claiming he beat girlfriend to help her lose weight

A Hong Kong man has been found guilty of manslaughter but acquitted of murdering his girlfriend after jurors accepted his claim that he may have accidentally beaten her to death while trying to help her lose weight by keeping her awake overnight. A High Court jury on Friday ruled by a majority of 5:2 that Ng Ka-sing, 29, was not guilty of murdering his 30-year-old partner Yip Tsz-ching at their flat in Hung Shui Kiu four years ago. However, the panel unanimously convicted Ng of manslaughter. Mrs Justice Judianna Barnes said the verdict showed the jury believed Ng's contention might be true that he accidentally beat Yip to death while she underwent an intensive diet. The killing and discovery of the body The crime came to light after Ng was seen pulling a wheelboard carrying Yip's body, wrapped in a quilt and layers of plastic film and adhesive tape, along Tin Ha Road in the early morning of April 29, 2022. A couple jogging in the area called police after seeing a human leg protruding from the rolled-up quilt. Forensic examinations found the deceased, who was 1.59 metres tall and weighed 64kg at the time of her death, had suffered extensive corrosive burns covering 55 per cent of her body. She had also sustained multiple bruises, abrasions and lacerations to her head and other parts of her body, which were likely caused by blunt force. An autopsy identified her cause of death as suffocation following head injuries and extensive burns on her chest, abdomen and limbs. Ng's defence: 'I hit her by mistake' In a police interview, Ng said his partner was on a diet and that he had been helping her lose weight by assaulting her to prevent her from sleeping. He said Yip had been barred from leaving the flat for three months and deprived of sleep for more than 10 days before the incident. Ng admitted beating his partner intermittently using a rod from the night of April 27, but insisted he did so only to keep her awake. He also claimed that the deceased had a tendency to harm herself, alleging she splashed a bottle of drain cleaner on herself that night "for fun". In the witness box, Ng said Yip's sworn sister, whose family shared the flat with the couple, asked him to assault Yip after the deceased was accused of eating without permission during a diet. The defendant said he was forced to submit to the orders by the sworn sister and her husband, who had abused him on multiple occasions. He removed his upper garments at one point to show the jurors the scars on his body, which he said were inflicted by being burned with a drain cleaner-infused cotton bud. Ng said he was "very scared" when he realised Yip was dead on the morning of April 28. "I didn't know why she was dead. My mind went blank. I didn't know what to do," he said. "I embraced her in my arms and told her that I'm sorry." The accused said the sworn sister suggested he dispose of Yip's body by burial, cremation or dismemberment, but Ng found none of the options feasible. He eventually decided to carry Yip's quilt-wrapped body to the streets, hoping to surrender himself to police. Upon his arrest at 6. 36am, Ng said: "This was my girlfriend. I hit her to death with a rod by mistake." Sentencing to come The court heard mitigation submissions will be heard on Monday. The judge noted a defendant's risk of reoffending in a case of this nature was "extremely low", but added she would need more information about Ng's character before sentencing. Ng pleaded guilty to preventing the lawful burial of Yip's body before the trial. He also offered to plead guilty to manslaughter, which was not accepted by the prosecution.