Hong Kong court convicts man for murder of 61-year-old store worker over 2 beer cans worth HK$31
- Jury returns unanimous verdict to convict Javed Iqbal Islam for fatally assaulting 61-year-old Tang Chung-keung outside 7-Eleven store on Kik Yeung Road in 2019
- Defendant claimed attack was self-defence, but prosecutors rejected explanation and called for murder conviction
A 30-year-old Hong Kong resident was found guilty on Thursday of murdering a convenience store worker who tried to stop him from stealing two cans of beer worth HK$31 (US$3.95).
A nine-member High Court jury returned a unanimous verdict to convict former sailor Javed Iqbal Islam, who claimed he fatally assaulted 61-year-old Tang Chung-keung under provocation on December 28, 2019.
Last month’s trial heard the defendant, who was unemployed at the time, left the 7-Eleven store on Kik Yeung Road in Yuen Long that night without paying for the drinks he intended to bring to his girlfriend.
Shop assistant Tang gave chase, but turned back when Islam pursued him.
Tang fell to the ground before the defendant kicked his head and chest multiple times and hit his head on the ground until he passed out, the court was told. The victim died in hospital two days later.
Islam initially denied murdering the 61-year-old when police arrested him in Tuen Mun’s Fu Tai Estate a day after the incident.
