The bodyguard of a slain Sun Yee On triad captain told the High Court Wednesday about how bad blood brought on by a 2006 bar brawl eventually led to his boss being killed in a revenge attack three years later by the Wo Shing Wo triad society.

Man Pui-ying, described as a Sun Yee On soldier, told the packed courtroom how his boss, 41-year-old Lee Tai-lung, a Sun Yee On "Double Flower Red Pole" (a senior rank) member, came to his rescue in the company of 20 other members of the triad during a fight at a Tsim Sha Tsui bar on July 23 2006. The dispute erupted after a young woman rebuffed Man after playing a drinking game.

In the midst of the mle, Lee struck Wo Shing Wo boss Leung Kwok-chung, also known as "Man San Chung", across the face with a whiskey bottle.

After learning he had disfigured a prominent member of the Wo Shing Wo triad, Lee laid low for three years until searchers sent out by Leung found him, Man testified.

Man has been granted immunity from being prosecuted as member of an illegal triad society. Leung is still at large.

Man was testifying at the trial of Wo Shing Wo triad members Lee Wan-kong, 37, Lo Chin-wang, 46, Lee Chun -kong, 23, also known as "Po Chai", Yeung Man-ting, 50 and Li Yuen-wo, 36.

The accused are listed as minibus drivers and seafood wholesalers. All have been charged with murder in the death of Lee.

Charlotte Draycott, senior counsel in the prosecution, said, "(Leung) was scarred and humiliated in the fight. A grudge was born that ended with the killing of Lee Tai Lung on the forecourt of the Shangri-la Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui on Aug 4, 2009."

Leung planned his calculated and cold-blooded revenge, after discovering Lee's whereabouts in July 2009, she alleged.

She told the seven-member jury that Leung's group stole at least two cars that they destroyed after the slaying.

Police later recovered spare license plates, face masks and knives in the trunks of the vehicles.

Draycott also described how Leung planned to establish his alibi by entering the mainland through Lok Ma Chau.

He returned clandestinely to Hong Kong by speedboat prior to the killing. Then he returned undercover to the mainland, before coming back to Hong Kong through regular immigration channels.

Draycott told the court the accused Lo drove headlong into Lee outside the hotel, knocking the victim into the air.

Lo and two others leapt out and chopped at Lee with meat knives, she alleged.

"Po Chai" and two others repeated the attack after leaping out of another car, following in a convoy, the prosecutor charged.

Following close behind in a third car, Lee Wan-kong, Leung Kwok-chung and Yeung Man-ting got out of the car to survey the scene, or as Draycott put it, to conduct a "cold appraisal of the work done".

The trial continues.

China Daily

(HK Edition 01/13/2011 page1)