Two people have been charged with manslaughter after a 40-year-old man was found dead in a hotel room near Hong Kong’s central business and nightlife district. The pair were remanded in custody pending their next court appearance in October.
American golf tutor Michael Saromines, 38, and 44-year-old salesman Jerry Liu Wai-ip were taken to the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on Monday after they were arrested in connection with a man who was found dead in Hotel Madera Hollywood last Saturday.
According to the police charge sheet, the defendants stand accused of unlawfully killing Chen Te-ming inside a room in the hotel located on Hollywood Road in Central between 5.53 p.m. on July 29 and 1.15 a.m. on July 30.
Police said that they received a report from hotel staff last Saturday, who found a man lying unconscious inside the bathroom. The victim had sustained no superficial injury, the Force said, and was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers also seized a small quantity of suspected drugs which they believed may be connected to the case.
The 38-year-old foreign national was arrested at the hotel, while Liu was later apprehended in Aberdeen. The District Crime Squad of Central District is responsible for investigating Chen’s death.
According to local media, both defendants were not required to enter their pleas yet. Magistrate Ada Yim approved the prosecution’s request to adjourn the case for police to conduct further investigations, including reviewing CCTV footage, conducting identification parades and running DNA tests.
Saromines did not apply for bail, while Liu’s application was rejected by Yim after she heard submissions from both the prosecution and the defence.
| 💡Under court reporting restrictions on bail proceedings, written and broadcast reports are limited to only include the result of a bail application, the name of the person applying for bail and their representation, and the offence concerned. |
The duo will appear in court again on October 24 for mention.
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