A jury returned an open verdict today in the death of the 22-year-old Hong Kong University of Science and Technology student Alex Chow Tsz-lok, ending the seven-week inquest.
The five-member jury of three women and two men deliberated for over 14 hours. The panel said the cause of Chow's death was the head injury resulting from the fall from the height but was unable to determine whether the case was an accident or homicide. The verdict was of 4:1.
The 22-year-old computer science student was found lying unconsciously in Sheung Tak Estate car park in Tseung Kwan O in the morning of November 4, 2019. He suffered massive head injuries and died in hospital four days after the incident after undergoing operations on his brain.
No security camera captured Chow entering the building's third floor, seconds before his fall.
The jury suggested that the security camera system in the carpark to be updated and warning signs should be posted near the concrete wall on third floor.
Chow's father, Chow Tak-ming, said he respects the verdict and thanked the jurors for their hard work.
"They took the case very seriously and have worked so hard. I want to tell Tsz-lok that we've tried our best to dig out the truth, although there are still questions unanswered and we are one step away from being able to get to the very bottom of what happened," he said.
He added that his family would take a break first and hoped that the truth could be revealed one day.
Coroner Ko Wai-hung said the inquiry was "almost close to the truth", adding that the truth behind the fall could be revealed had the security camera been a bit higher or turned a bit slower.
Ko said he felt depressed to handle Chow's case as he was a promising young man. He also thanked the jury for working hard in the inquest and exempt them for being a juror again in eight years.
The 22-year-old computer science student was found lying unconsciously in Sheung Tak Estate car park in Tseung Kwan O in the morning of November 4, 2019. He suffered massive head injuries and died in hospital four days after the incident after undergoing operations on his brain.
No security camera captured Chow entering the building's third floor, seconds before his fall.
The jury suggested that the security camera system in the carpark to be updated and warning signs should be posted near the concrete wall on third floor.
Chow's father, Chow Tak-ming, said he respects the verdict and thanked the jurors for their hard work.
"They took the case very seriously and have worked so hard. I want to tell Tsz-lok that we've tried our best to dig out the truth, although there are still questions unanswered and we are one step away from being able to get to the very bottom of what happened," he said.
He added that his family would take a break first and hoped that the truth could be revealed one day.
Coroner Ko Wai-hung said the inquiry was "almost close to the truth", adding that the truth behind the fall could be revealed had the security camera been a bit higher or turned a bit slower.
Ko said he felt depressed to handle Chow's case as he was a promising young man. He also thanked the jury for working hard in the inquest and exempt them for being a juror again in eight years.