Court tells prosecutor to check if key witness in assault case can testify

By The SUN

 

The attacks on the Filipino victims happened outside this Wanchai park

Principal Magistrate Ada Yim ordered the prosecution in a wounding and assault case heard at Eastern Court yesterday (Nov 24) to find out if a key witness is still in Hong Kong and if not, whether the case could proceed even without him.

She made the order after Filipino driver Delfin D. Villaremo, 55, asked if the case of assault occasioning bodily harm filed against him could continue even if his alleged victim had already gone back to the Philippines.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

The said victim, William L. Maun, had pointed to Villaremo as the one who had punched him during a melee outside Tai Wo playground in Wan Chai on Oct. 9.

Magistrate Yim extended Villaremo’s bail of $1,000 until the next hearing of the case on Jan. 5.

She also advised him to inquire with the Duty Lawyer scheme on how he could get legal representation for his next court appearance.

Pindutin para sa detalye

Villaremo’s co-defendant, Romeo D. Miranda, will however, remain in jail after the magistrate again rejected his offer to post a cash bail of $3,500, surrender his travel document, and report regularly to police.

Miranda, a permanent resident working as a construction worker, is charged with the more serious case of wounding for allegedly using a kitchen knife to slash a fellow Filipino identified in the charge sheet as Benson Jy Mateo Agunoy, in the same incident.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

In denying his bail application a second time, Yim cited the seriousness of the case and the strong evidence against Miranda, apart from his previous conviction for a similar offence.

Previously, Miranda had asked the court to allow him temporary liberty so he could see his five-year-old daughter and three-year-old son.

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But Yim said then it was necessary to keep him in prison so he would not re-offend or interfere with  the witnesses.

The two accused were arrested separately in the morning of Oct. 11, or more than a full day after they allegedly attacked the two victims, then fled.

The two men who were injured were taken to Ruttonjee Hospital for treatment.

BASAHIN ANG DETALYE

But in their statements to the police, Miranda and Villaremo denied having instigated the fight. 

Villaremo told the police he had rushed to Miranda's defence after seeing a group of Chinese and Filipino men ganging up on him.

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