RESTRICTED
FM MONROVIA 20121OZ DEC 82
TO PRIORITY FCO
RESTRICTED
TELEGRAM NUMBER 113 OF 20 DECEMBER
AND TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
FCO TELNO 83: LAM WAI-TING
A Beston
1. LEROY UREY, LEGAL COUNSELLOR AT MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS,
SAID TODAY THAT EVEN IF LAM IS FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER IT IS
MOST UNLIKELY DEATH PENALTY WOULD BE AWARDED AND EXTREMELY
UNLIKELY IT WOULD BE PUT INTO EFFECT. GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES
OF THE CRIME, THE STIFFEST SENTENCE HE WOULD EXPECT WOULD BE
LIFE IMPRISONMENT IF LAM WAS FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER: HOWEVER,
THERE WAS A REASONABLE CHANCE IN HIS OPINION OF THE VERDICT
BEING MANSLAUGHTER, IN WHICH CASE HE WOULD EXPECT SENTENCE TO
BE IMPRISONMENT FOR A TERM NOT EXCEEDING SEVEN YEARS. OF
COURSE, HE WENT ON, IT WILL BE FOR THE GRAND JURY TO DECIDE
THE PENALTY, THOUGH THE JUDGE MAY DIRECT.
2. TRIAL WILL BE CONDUCTED IN ENGLISH. LIBERIAN SOLICITOR-
GENERAL IS LEAVING FOR HONG KONG ON 26 DECEMBER AND WHILE
THERE MAY ARRANGE SERVICES OF A TRANSLATOR IF LAM DOES NOT SPEAK
ENGLISH.
3. LAN WILL BE FREE TO APPOINT LAWYER OF HIS CHOICE. IF HE HAS
NO MONEY, LIBERIAN GOVERNMENT WILL PROVIDE ONE, MOST PROBABLY
OF LAN'S CHOICE.
4. FCO PLEASE PASS HONG KONG.
THIS TEAM WAS NOT ADVANCED
JONES
NTD
A L
H K v G D WAD
MA
COPIES TO:
HILL
ES. DIVN
RESTRICTED
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