HKSAR v. Cheng Xin Na

Read the full judgment text of HCMA 185/2002 on BabelCite. This High Court CFI judgment was delivered on 8 May 2002.

1. Having considered the written arguments in this case and having taken into account the concession made by Mr Dick who appears before this court for the Government, I reluctantly come to the conclusion that the conviction cannot be supported in view of the very fundamental error made by the magistrate on the standard of proof (see p.67 of the Appeal Bundle D-E. The mistake is fatal and cannot be cured by a subsequent correction at p.68 N-O).

Case No.HCMA 185/2002
Court
High Court CFI
Date08 May 2002
Judge
Case Document
100%Judiciary

HCMA000185/2002

HCMA185/2002

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE

(Appellate Jurisdiction)

MAGISTRACY APPEAL NO.185 OF 2002

(ON APPEAL FROM ESCC 3565 OF 2001)

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BETWEEN
HKSAR Respondent
AND
CHENG XIN NA Appellant

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Coram : Deputy High Court Judge Wong in Court

Date of Hearing : 8 May 2002

Date of Judgment : 8 May 2002

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J U D G M E N T

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1.Having considered the written arguments in this case and having taken into account the concession made by Mr Dick who appears before this court for the Government, I reluctantly come to the conclusion that the conviction cannot be supported in view of the very fundamental error made by the magistrate on the standard of proof (see p.67 of the Appeal Bundle D-E. The mistake is fatal and cannot be cured by a subsequent correction at p.68 N-O).

2.The facts are quite simple, there is no need for me to repeat them here. In all the circumstances of the case, I have, with reluctance, to allow this appeal, quash the conviction and set aside the sentence.

( M. Wong )
Deputy Judge of the High Court

Representation:

Mr J.W. Dick, SGC for Director of Public Prosecutions, for the Respondent

Mr Osmond Lam, instructed by Messrs Ivan Tang & Co., for the Appellant