Hong Kong surgeon unlawfully killed woman in botched Botox procedure, jury finds

A 93-year-old Hong Kong plastic surgeon unlawfully killed a top banker by gross negligence during a botched Botox injection seven years ago, a jury has found.

A seven-member High Court jury on Thursday reached a unanimous decision that found Dr Franklin Li Wang-pong had committed all the acts alleged in the original manslaughter charge before he was declared unfit to stand trial last month due to dementia.

That unfitness means the ruling will not leave Li with a criminal record, but the court can still impose alternative sentences, such as mandatory psychiatric treatment.

Mr Justice Anthony Kwok Kai-on adjourned sentencing until November 12 pending an assessment of whether Li should be placed under a guardianship order, which allows a guardian assigned by the director of social welfare to make personal decisions on the defendant’s behalf.

The judge acknowledged the present case was “rather unusual”, noting that Li did not appear to be suffering from any mental disorder that would justify the imposition of a hospital order.

“It seems to me … only a guardianship order may be a sentencing option, apart from absolute discharge,” he said.