Three judges presiding over media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s national security trial have rejected a defense request to recall a key prosecution witness for cross-examination, citing concerns about undermining the interest of justice.
The court heard that Lai’s legal team had ample opportunities to question the witness, Cheung Kim-hung, on “lunchbox meetings” among Apple Daily executives. Despite being informed of the meetings’ abstracts, the significance only became apparent during Cheung’s testimony.
Judge Susana D’Almada Remedios emphasized that the defense had plenty of time to prepare and that the prosecution never possessed the abstracts in question. The judges concluded that recalling Cheung would not serve the interest of justice.
Lai’s legal team made the application last minute to challenge Cheung’s interpretation of the meetings, which prosecutors claimed were aimed at influencing editorial decisions and promoting an anti-government agenda.
However, the defense argued that the decisions were purely commercial in nature. The trial continues as more details unfold.
\
[ad_2]
Source link