2019 protests: 6 seek appeals for obstructing justice over PolyU campus bridge escape

Six people convicted for their roles in escaping the Polytechnic University campus during the 2019 pro-democracy protests are seeking to overturn their convictions. The group, who rappelled from a bridge and fled in getaway vehicles, were found guilty of perverting the course of justice and received prison sentences.

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whether the defendants had committed a “positive” deliberate act by getting onto the vehicle.

Their appeal hinges on the argument that accepting transportation after their descent should not be classified as perverting the course of justice. Defense lawyers contended that the act of getting into a vehicle does not equate to a "positive" deliberate act to obstruct justice, drawing parallels to robbery cases where entering a getaway car does not add a perversion charge.

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fleeing the scene with someone providing transportation cannot be considered perverting the course of justice.

Further arguments questioned the sufficiency of evidence, with one defense lawyer stating there was no footage of their client rappelling or boarding a vehicle. Another challenged medical records used to prove a client's injury from descending a rope. The prosecution maintained that the defendants acted in concert with drivers, forming a "joint enterprise" to evade arrest.

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there was no footage of her client rappelling from the bridge or boarding the vehicle on the Hung Hom Bypass.

The Court of Appeal judges have reserved their decision, which is expected within the next six months. The case scrutinizes the legal definition of perverting the course of justice in the context of protest-related escapes.

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the medical records the prosecution had earlier relied on to prove Lam injured his palms from descending the rope were insufficient evidence.