Trial of Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai ends after 1½ years, with verdict at later date

Former Hong Kong media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s marathon national security trial has come to a close after more than 1½ years, with the judges expected to hand down their verdict before mid-November.

After sitting for 156 days, the curtain came down on Thursday on the Apple Daily tabloid founder’s trial, following a decision by the three presiding High Court judges on how to handle certain evidence immaterial to determining guilt in the high-profile case.

Madam Justice Esther Toh Lye-ping, who did not give a date on when the court would deliver its judgment, said any matter arising during the adjournment would be dealt with by way of correspondence.

After the nearly hour-long sitting concluded at West Kowloon Court, the 77-year-old defendant briefly spoke to his lawyers, waved to supporters in the public gallery and greeted them with folded hands before leaving the dock escorted by three prison officers.

Lai, who has been detained since December 2020, has denied two conspiracy counts of collusion with foreign forces and a third of conspiracy to print seditious articles.

He allegedly used his now-defunct news outlet and social media platforms to trigger foreign sanctions and incite public disaffection against authorities between April 2019 and June 2021.