18
In my opinion the evidence on which the men were returned for
trial, including confessions and finger prints, if established in Court
would be ample to procure a conviction.
In the course of three of the robberies, including the one
which resulted in the sergeant's death, violence was used. I have earlier
referred to the injuries inflicted on two guards and a bank messenger
during that robbery.
In the robbery which took place at the Chartered Bank, Kam Pik
House, Choi Hung Estate on the 10th July, 1973 in which all seven took
part the bank manager was stabbed and a guard injured.
This robbery was carried out in much the same way as that of
the 14th August, 1973: Taxi hailed by two men; joined farther on by two
more pistol put to the head of the driver; driver taken into bushes about
50 yards from the road; hands and feet tied with bandages; and mouth and
eyes covered with adhesive tape. (At identification parade driver
identified No.1). Bank entered by men, some wearing masks, headed by one
wearing a peaked cap.
According to the statement of the manager he was in his office
when the door was burst open and a masked man carrying a gun and a man
with a knife burst in. He was told to open the door of the safe by the
count of ten or he would be stabbed. The man with the knife commenced to
count but at the count of 4 he "chopped" the manager "several times.
Before the man left he again chopped. The manager's injuries were:
"(a) 3" would over right side of the scalp region
(b) Two wounds 31" x 2" and 11" over right shoulder region
(c) Wound 2" long over right upper arm outer aspect
(d) Wound - 1" long over right elbow outer aspect
(e) Would
A
11" long over left shoulder region.'
it