Father on Trial for Allegedly Shaking Daughter to Death

A father is facing trial for the murder of his three-year-old daughter, who tragically died after allegedly being shaken violently. The case of Lau Kai-ping, 42, is currently being examined by a jury in the High Court.

Lau is accused of killing his daughter, Leung Ah-sze, who passed away in 2020 due to acute brain bleeding believed to be caused by violent shaking. In a controversial statement during the proceedings, Lau suggested that his daughter should be "disciplined like a dog."

While Lau has pleaded not guilty to murder, he has admitted to manslaughter—a plea that the prosecution has rejected. He also pleaded guilty to charges of child abuse.

The prosecution's opening statement revealed that the girl suffered from acute submeningeal bleeding, which is associated with shaken baby syndrome. It was noted that Lau had a history of a tumultuous and violent relationship with his partner, Leung Siu-yan. In 2017, he was imprisoned for pouring corrosive liquid on her during a serious dispute. After his release in May 2020, he returned to live with Leung and their daughter.

On July 18, 2020, Leung briefly left to buy breakfast and returned just ten minutes later to find her daughter unconscious. Despite immediate medical attention, the girl died on her third birthday, July 29. The prosecution argued that Lau misled authorities by claiming that the girl had fallen out of bed.