Murder trial jury dismissed after complaining parent-killing evidence too gruesome
New trial set for two men accused of killing and dismembering couple
The gruesome murder case in which a man and his friend are accused of killing the former's parents and dismembering their bodies will have to restart with a new, bigger jury after a judge excused the foreman, who said he was too upset by the evidence to continue.
Another juror, a woman, had earlier been let go for same reason two days into the trial.
Presiding deputy judge Mr Justice Michael Stuart-Moore said that under Hong Kong law, the trial of Henry Chau, 30, and his friend Tse Chun-kei, 36, could have gone on with five jurors.
But he said it was "impossible to continue" given the effect of the evidence on other jurors in the case, and discharged the remaining three women and two men.
The judge said it was an "unfortunate situation" as it happened halfway through the trial. He ruled that the trial should start again with nine jurors instead of the usual seven. That trial is set for February 23 next year, according to the judiciary website.
Chau and Tse deny murdering Chau's parents - Chau Wing-ki, 65, and Siu Yuet-yee, 62 - at a flat in Tai Kok Tsui on March 1 last year.
The court heard last week that the bodies of the elderly couple were cut up, with the heads stored in two refrigerators and other remains kept in lunch boxes, plastic bags and plastic boxes.
