Former British banker pleads not guilty to Hong Kong murders on grounds of "diminished responsibility"

Record ID: 83910

  • Title: Former British banker pleads not guilty to Hong Kong murders on grounds of "diminished responsibility"
  • Date: 24th October 2016
  • Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (OCTOBER 24, 2016) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** HONG KONG FINANCIAL CENTRE FROM HIGH COURT VARIOUS OF POLICE ESCORTING PRISON VAN TRANSPORTING ACCUSED MURDERER RURIK JUTTING TO HIGH COURT POLICE MOTORBIKES POLICEMAN IN BODY ARMOUR DIRECTING PRISON VAN INTO COURT POLICE AND REPORTERS VARIOUS OF JUTTING'S LAWYER MICHAEL VIDLER ENTERING COURT THROUGH RESTRICTED ENTRANCE DOMESTIC HELPER PROTEST OUTSIDE HIGH COURT ENTRANCE INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS ALLIANCE CHAIRPERSON, ENI LESTARI, PROTESTING VARIOUS OF BANNERS CALLING FOR PROTECTION OF MIGRANT WORKERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS ALLIANCE CHAIRPERSON, ENI LESTARI, SAYING: "One of the reason is because they are women. And second they are women migrants. You know, the culprit knows that these women moving to Hong Kong as domestic workers or other type of job, are very vulnerable. They don't have their family in the town. No one is taking care of them. And they need the money to survive. And also they are victims of a lot of abuses in the city. So many of these culprits usually know they have no choice but to follow what this culprit is going to do to them until such time they realize they are in danger." VAN CONTAINING EVIDENCE EVIDENCE BEING TAKEN INTO COURT VARIOUS OF EXTERIORS OF HIGH COURT
  • Embargoed: 8th November 2016 03:42
  • Keywords: China Hong Kong murder British banker Rurik Jutting Indonesia apartment
  • Location: HONG KONG, CHINA
  • City: HONG KONG, CHINA
  • Country: China
  • Reuters ID: LVA00255D5GLJ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Former British banker Rurik Jutting, charged with the double murder of two Indonesian women found in his luxury high-rise Hong Kong apartment two years ago, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter on Monday (October 24).
    His prison van was escorted by heavy security as it entered the court, while his lawyer, Michael Vidler, refused to comment about the case while following his van into the restricted area.
    Jutting, 31, pleaded not guilty to the two murder charges on grounds of "diminished responsibility" at the start of his trial in Hong Kong. He also pleaded guilty to a third charge of preventing lawful burial of a body.
    The case is being closely watched by the 300,000-strong migrant domestic helpers community in Hong Kong. Outside the High Court, about a dozen of their representatives held placards reading "Justice for Wanchai Murder Victim" and "Stop Violence".
    The Chairperson of the International Migrants Alliance, Eni Lestari, said this was not the first time migrant workers had been victims of abuse.
    "One of the reason is because they are women. And second they are women migrants. You know, the culprit knows that these women moving to Hong Kong as domestic workers or other type of job, are very vulnerable. They don't have their family in the town. No one is taking care of them. And they need the money to survive. And also they are victims of a lot of abuses in the city. So many of these culprits usually know they have no choice but to follow what this culprit is going to do to them until such time they realize they are in danger," she said.
    Jutting who previously worked at Bank of America Corp in Hong Kong, was accused in October 2014 after police found the bodies of two women, one inside a suitcase on his balcony and the other lying inside the apartment with wounds to her neck and buttocks, authorities said.
    Looking trim and dressed in a dark blue shirt, Jutting was clean shaven with short cut hair, in stark contrast to his initial court appearances when he looked heavily overweight and sported a thick dark beard.
    Before the jury selection, Jutting's barrister Tim Owen explained the argument for diminished responsibility was based on the grounds of a personality disorder.
    Deputy High Court Judge Stuart-Moore said "there isn't a disease here, it is a personality disorder."
    Prosecutor John Reading stated that psychopathic behaviour was not a reason for diminished responsibility, setting up the sides both parties will take during the trial.
    Bank of America has previously said Jutting was an employee but it has not said why he left or given any time frame.
    Jutting was found fit to plea after undergoing psychiatric assessment at the end of 2014 after being charged for the double murder.
    A LinkedIn account under Jutting's name said he had worked in structured equity finance and trading at Bank of America in Hong Kong since July 2013. Before that, he had worked in the same department but in London.
    The profile also said Jutting had worked in structured capital markets at Barclays between June 2008 and July 2010 and had studied at Cambridge University.
    According to people who were at Cambridge at the same time, Jutting attended Peterhouse, the oldest college, and was president of the Cambridge University History society. He was also a cross-country runner and a rower. Prior to Cambridge he went to Winchester College, one of Britain's most famous and oldest private schools.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register