Hong Kong man receives prison term after hammer attack on associate

Hong Kong’s High Court has sentenced a 42-year-old man to three years and two months in prison after he attacked an associate with a hammer whose later death was attributed to drugs. Mo Tai-fung pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and inhaling a dangerous drug. He had initially faced a murder charge after allegedly striking the 33-year-old man, surnamed Pang, 11 times outside a building in Yau Ma Tei in July 2024.

The prosecution amended the charge after an autopsy found that Pang had died from the effects of drugs. Although he suffered multiple deep cuts to his scalp, the injuries were not considered fatal. The court heard that Mo and Pang had met at a flat used as a drug den.

During a gathering there, Mo said he had been provoked by Pang, whom he described as arrogant and disrespectful. Mo later followed him outside and struck him seven times with a small hammer. After Pang fell and was sitting on the ground, Mo hit him four more times.

Pang returned to the building after Mo left. He later took drugs to relieve his pain, suffered a seizure and was found unconscious outside. He was pronounced dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital at about 7am.

Justice Anna Lai Yuen-kee said Mo had an appalling criminal record, including 18 previous convictions and several violent offences. He had committed the latest offence about a year after completing a three-year sentence for wounding. The judge said any provocation did not justify such a serious attack and that the retaliation was wholly out of proportion.

She set a four-year-six-month starting point for the wounding charge, reduced by one-third for Mo’s timely guilty plea, and added two months for the drug offence.