Possibility that Hong Kong teen found dead at sea was drugged ‘cannot be ruled out’
- Government chemist, called to testify a second time at inquest into death, says chloroform can dissipate readily, especially during decomposition
- Mysterious case last year has gripped city, with forensic psychiatrist suggesting earlier the girl may have had psychosis symptoms
The possibility that a 15-year-old girl found dead at sea was drugged before her death could not be ruled out, despite a lack of evidence supporting this, a Hong Kong government chemist told an inquest on Monday.
Hong Yau-hin told the Coroner’s Court no toxic substances were detected in the body of Chan Yin-lam, whose cause of death remains unclear after she was found in the waters off Tseung Kwan O on September 22 last year.
The college student was said to have behaved strangely on September 19, the day she was last seen by friends and caught on security cameras.
The forensic scientist was called to testify for the second time in the court inquiry into Chan’s death, as the five-member jury looked into whether the teen had been knocked out by chloroform or other anaesthetics before she entered the water.
Hong said that while no such chemicals were found in Chan’s body fluid samples, that did not necessarily mean the teen had not been dosed with chloroform, because a considerable time had passed when her body was discovered.
“The lab finding does not mean [chloroform] had not been used. Chloroform, in its gas form, can be lost readily, especially when the body is in a decomposed state. It’s no surprise if the substance had been lost,” Hong said.