Like a glass being tossed across the room at the Legislative Council, the assault case against ex-lawmaker Raymond Wong Yuk-man has been thrown out.
Wong was two years ago found guilty of common assault for hurling a glass and pieces of paper in the direction of former chief executive CY Leung during a Legco question and answer session in 2014.
But at the High Court today, judge Judianna Barnes overturned his conviction and quashed a two-week jail sentence, calling the appeal “straightforward”, Apple Daily reported.
Barnes, according to HK01, dismissed Leung’s claim that he was “afraid and shocked” by the incident, noting CCTV footage showed him looking calm and relaxed. She also noted he hadn’t even looked at from where the glass came.
She said it was not proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Wong had intended to attack the ex-leader, wrote Ming Pao.
She did, however, criticize the former lawmaker’s behavior, according to the outlet.
According to RTHK, Wong unleashed a celebratory fist pump upon hearing the verdict. He also asked the court to make Leung pay legal costs.
His supporter, meanwhile, chanted slogans deriding the controversial ex-leader.
Responding to the decision, Leung took to Facebook to say he hoped the ruling wouldn’t encourage others to copy Wong’s actions.
