Chow Pak-kwan, who was shot by a police officer during the 2019 protests, has filed an appeal together with his co-defendant against their conviction and sentencing. The pair were jailed for six years for their attempt to snatch the officer’s gun.
Chow, who is now 23, and Woo Tsz-kin, 22, filed their application to the Court of Appeal on Wednesday, according to local media. The judiciary’s website said no hearing date has yet been scheduled.
District Judge Adriana Tse found both of them guilty of attempted robbery of an officer’s gun and obstructing the officer. Chow was additionally convicted of attempting to escape from legal custody.
Chow and Woo were among protesters who gathered in Sai Wan Ho on the morning of November 11, 2019, when pro-democracy activists called for a city-wide strike and set up roadblocks across different districts.
A video showed a police officer, who was subduing another protester, shooting a man dressed from head to toe in black – Chow – at close range. Chow was rushed to hospital in critical condition, and local media reported that his kidney and half of his liver were removed.
When handing down sentence on November 30, Tse said both defendants and other protesters at the scene “went forward to bully the lone officer,” and acted “in a thuggish manner.” The judge said they had challenged law enforcement by trying to take his gun.
The judge set the sentencing tarting point for their attempted robbery at six years, while allowing them to serve other charges concurrently.
Tse dismissed Chow’s mitigation plea based on his physical injuries, saying he had “intentionally misled” the court that his life could be at risk following surgery when he had in fact undergone a smooth recovery.
The judge also did not give Woo any discount on his jail time after being told that he had developed PTSD after the incident. Tse said the two defendants “only have themselves to blame” for the physical and mental injuries they suffered.
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