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that from the most easily ascertainable scene of the
altercation, from the point where the tap on the shoulder
was given, up to the Tak Hing paint shop is only 46 feet.
We know that the noodle manufacturer was sitting at the
back of his stall so the distance is less, but we do know
that what he noticed was that Leung Ki fell but he could
give no reason for that. Leung Ki fell, the accused man
was in hot pursuit and then Wan Yiu Nam has told us he saw
the accused man strike Leung Ki four times with the chopper
in very rapid succession and then run on and turn into
Queen's Road.
The chess players don't add a great deal to our
knowledge of it. Chess is an engrossing game and it takes a
great deal, I imagine, to distract the attention of an
ardent player from his next move, but apparently shouts of
'save life' even in Chinese Street are sufficient to
distract the greatest devotee and so they both looked up
and they deposed to three very material facts - Firstly
that Leung Ki did call out 'save life' Secondly, that
Leung Ki fled with the accused behind him and thirdly, that
Leung Ki fell by the Tak Hing Paint shop and the accused man
went on.
The time at which Leung Ki may have called out is
difficult to ascertain from any attempt to reconcile their
evidence with that of the others; it may have been from
their evidence, that he called as he fell, or just before
he fell or just after but you will remember what the Crown
essentially say is this - there was no time ordinarily and
normally speaking between the beginning of this chase and
the end of it the whole thing was a matter of moments
45 feet
G
46 feet for young men of 21 and 24 years of age
it is not altogether surprising that untrained observers
depending entirely on their visual and sensual recollection
of what happened in that very short time should not be
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