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That brings us to the statement of the prisoner himself.
"I was sitting quietly as becomes a man of peace at a
stall at Ng Kui's when I was again approached by Leung Ki
and Chan Kam On. I told them again that I had no money and
so I could not pay them. Then they became abusive. Then
Leung Ki, (who, we have been told was a slight small fellow,
21 years of age) electrified me by attacking me with what
we have heard described as "western form of attack," the
old use of the fists and he struck me on the ribs on the
right side with his fist. That was not all because he
looked very very angry • When I was struck like that of
course I fell back. I fell back a couple of paces I looked
round hastily and found something to defend myself with and
very providentially saw the chopper, so I picked it up and
I brandished it, and apparently the effect from the
demonstration we got here must have been more like the
propellor of an aeroplane at speed than anything else, a
complete circle of steel going round.
Gentlenen, he has told us in one part of his statement
that he was driven back into a corner, that he was unable
further to retreat, and that it was because he was unable
further to retreat and because he was in fear of assault
a dual assault from Leung Ki and Chan Kam On that he was
forced to take up that chopper in self-defence.
It is to the credit of Mr. Chen that having outlined
that defence he promptly abandoned it. There is such a thing
as self-defence. There are circumstances in which a man
would be entitled to claim an acquittal as a free man at
your hand if when attacked by superior forces and having
backed till he could retreat no further, he had resisted
them by the use of a weapon. But no one has suggested