Former yoga instructor Lo Chun-ming testified in the High Court that he accidentally killed his former girlfriend, Aqua Chow Wai-yin, after she provoked him by threatening to report him to the police and claiming his previous children were not his.
The 28-year-old defendant denies the murder charge before Judge Alex Lee Wan-tang and a jury consisting of five men and two women. The trial centers on the death of the victim inside a room at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong between June 29 and June 30, 2022, Yahoo reported.
Giving evidence for a third day, Lo told the court that he had accumulated heavy debts and planned to cut his wrists inside the hotel room after seeing Chow one last time. He described Chow as the woman he loved most.
Lo Testified About Financial Troubles and Suicidal Intentions
During the hearing, external prosecutor Derek Wong Ho-tong applied for an anonymity order for Lo’s then-girlfriend at the time of the offense, which Judge Lee approved. The court will refer to her as X.
Lo testified that two weeks prior to the incident, he told X about his financial troubles and his intention to take his life. X responded that she could not assist him financially but would remain by his side, though she contracted COVID-19 the following day and could not meet him.
“During those two weeks, I received numerous call-loan collection calls from finance companies,” Lo said, describing his descent toward suicide.
He eventually contacted Chow via Telegram, and she agreed to have dinner with him on June 26. Lo testified that he brought HK$60,000 in cash to give her as a parting gift before his intended suicide.
Plans shifted when Chow mentioned she would leave for the United States on June 30 to study yoga. Lo decided to postpone his suicide until after her departure so they could spend more time together.
Arguments Over Luxury Goods and Police Threats
Lo told the court that on June 27, Chow took him to a Delvaux store in K11 Musea and pointed at a handbag in the window, which he understood as a hint to purchase it for her. The following day, X visited the Ritz-Carlton with him, but left early because she could not stay overnight.
Lo then visited Chow’s home. After initially telling him not to come because he could not provide what she wanted, Chow welcomed him back after he promised to photograph the handbag the next day.
On June 29, Lo bought a knife at the Yau Ma Tei fruit market with the intention of cutting his wrists. After photographing the handbag at the store, the pair went to the hotel room.
According to Lo, Chow walked to the window to admire the view before asking if he had bought her the handbag. When Lo replied that he had no money, Chow’s demeanor shifted.
“Aqua’s expression changed immediately, looking at me angrily,” Lo said, adding that she pointed at a red wine bottle and accused him of bringing other women to hotels.
Lo testified that Chow threatened to contact the police regarding a prior incident from January and accuse him of harassment if he failed to buy her the bag.
“Aqua said afterwards, if you don’t buy the handbag for me, I will contact the police officers in charge of our January case and tell them you gave me HK$60,000 to harass me, I’m going to stitch you up!” Lo said.
The Fatal Altercation in the Hotel Room
Lo said that the threat filled him with immense anger, bringing back memories of supporting Chow financially and enduring her infidelity. As Chow reached for her phone to call the police, Lo snatched it and threw it onto the bed.
Chow pushed him away and swept items off a cabinet. Lo stepped back and warned her not to act wildly because a knife was present.
“Are you trying to scare me?” Chow responded, according to the defendant.
Lo testified that he grabbed the knife, placed the blade against his own left wrist, and told her he wanted to die in front of her so she would remember him forever. Chow allegedly replied:
“You might as well die early! Otherwise, I’ll make sure you lose everything! I might as well tell you now, those previous babies were not yours!”
Lo claimed that statement caused his mind to “explode.” He lunged forward as Chow turned to run.
“I only remember colliding with Aqua, and the knife stabbed into her. I… I suffered a blackout,” Lo said, adding that he recalled seeing blood, attempting to revive her with water, and eventually placing her body in the bathtub.
The trial continues on Thursday with cross-examination by the prosecution.
