OFW pleads not guilty in HK couple slay

HONG KONG – The Filipino who was extradited here yesterday pleaded not guilty to the killings of a Chinese-American couple in 2003.

Magno Cruz Manalili, a former domestic helper, denied killing his employers Ng Ka-mong and Sun King-man, both American citizens of Chinese descent, in their residence in Pai Tau Village in Sha Tin in April 2003.

High Court Judge Clare Marie Beeson said the trial would start on Wednesday.

Lawyer Claro de Castro Jr., chief of the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) Interpol Division, has said that Manalili’s extradition on June 11, 2010 was the first extradition of a Filipino to Hong Kong. 

His extradition stemmed from the Agreement for the Surrender of Accused and Convicted Persons between the Philippines and Hong Kong.

The prosecution has lined up 49 witnesses, including two Filipino investigators who will arrive in the Chinese territory on Tuesday.

Seven other Filipinos were included in the list of prosecution witnesses.

Investigation of the Hong Kong police showed that the victims died of multiple stab wounds in different parts of their bodies.

Manalili was last seen in his employer’s house at 6 p.m. of April 12.

The couple was last seen alive returning to their house at around 9 p.m. after dining out with friends.

At around 11 p.m., Manalili allegedly slept at a neighbor’s house, claiming that he could not sleep in his employer’s house.