Jimmy Lai intimidation trial: lawyers accuse reporter of exaggerating mental trauma from exchange with Hong Kong tycoon
- Video from 2017 incident shows reporter smiling after interaction with Apple Daily founder
- Defence team suggests reporter and rival newspaper used event to ‘make life difficult’ for Lai
Lawyers for Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying have accused a reporter from a rival newspaper of exaggerating the psychological trauma he suffered in an exchange with the media tycoon, to secure his prosecution and conviction.
The Oriental Daily employee testified in West Kowloon Court for the second day on Friday, against Lai, who has denied criminal intimidation over the encounter during the annual candlelight vigil at Victoria Park on June 4, 2017, commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown.
The reporter, who has been granted anonymity by the court, testified on Thursday that he worried about his personal safety when Lai cursed at him and threatened to get someone to “mess with” him, after he took pictures and videos of the 72-year-old during the event.
On Friday, the defence counsel challenged the reporter’s credibility and suggested he and his company had taken the incident as an opportunity for them to “make life difficult” for the Next Digital boss.
Peter Duncan SC, for Lai, pointed to video footage of the exchange that saw the reporter smiling after being scolded by Lai.
