The Judiciary Police (PJ) arrested a 36-year-old local man on Sunday for punching a 74-year-old local grandfather to death because he was unhappy that his son had been scratched by the victim’s grandson in a playground in the S. Lourenço Market Municipal Complex in Ha Van district, PJ spokesman Leng Kam Lon said during a special press conference yesterday.
Ha Van is the Chinese name for the Praia do Manduco neighbourhood in the Inner Harbour area near Barra. S. Lourenço Market is known as Ha Van Market in Cantonese.
According to Leng, the suspect surnamed Ku works as a real-estate agent.
On Saturday at about 3 p.m., Ku’s five-year-old son was playing in the playground with other children. His father was there as well. The victim’s nine-year-old grandson was also playing there. His grandfather was not there.
Playing there the two boys bumped into each other, according to Leng.
According to Leng, Ku’s son stepped on the foot of the victim’s grandson, who then scratched the face of the suspect’s son, causing minor facial injuries.
Ku’s son told his father what had happened. The suspect told the nine-year-old boy to tell his parents to come to the playground for a face-to-face talk about his son’s injuries.
The nine-year-old boy could not contact his parents. Ku then told the nine-year-old boy to take him and his son to his family home in nearby Calçada do Januário, according to Leng.
The victim, who was living with the nine-year-old boy’s parents, opened the door. Ku demanded “compensation” for his son’s injuries, which was steadfastly refused by the victim, who said that he would report the case to the police to handle the situation, according to Leng.
In a fit of anger, Ku punched the victim on the left side of his face, which caused the victim to fall to the floor and faint. Ku then fled the scene with his son. The victim’s neighbours got wind of the incident and reported the case to the police, according to Leng.
Paramedics and firemen rushed the victim to hospital. A medical examination confirmed that the victim suffered cerebral haemorrhage and cerebral oedema, according to Leng. The victim died at around 9 a.m. on Sunday after treatment to save his life had failed.
Public Security Police (PSP) officers meanwhile transferred the case to the Judiciary Police for follow-up investigation. PJ officers went to Ku’s flat in Ilha Verde district at around 11 a.m. on Sunday and arrested him, Leng said.
Under questioning, Ku admitted to having punched the victim in a fit of anger, Leng said.
The suspect will be transferred to the Public Prosecution Office (MP) for further questioning, facing possible charges based on Articles 138, 139 and 140 of the Macau Penal Code. The articles state that grievous bodily harm resulting in death is punishable by up to 15 years’ imprisonment. In particularly aggravated circumstances, the prison term can be increased by a third.
Leng said the fact that the incident was due to a trivial matter amounted to aggravated circumstances.
Judiciary Police (PJ) officers escort the hooded suspect to a vehicle parked in front of the PJ headquarters in Zape yesterday. Photo: Iong Tat Choi
