by Vir B. Lumicao
The Hong Kong govt has decided to conduct its own autopsy on the remains of Lorain Asuncion, the Filipina domestic helper who fell to her death in Shenzhen in late July.
An officer of the Consulate's assistance to nationals section told The SUN that the new autopsy will be conducted today, Monday, Nov 13.
But Danny Baldon said the autopsy is a standard requirement for bodies that are in transit here to their final destination. He has been liaising with the police since the remains of 28-year-old Asuncion arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday evening.
The remains were taken directly to the Fushan Public Mortuary in Taiwai, Shatin, where the autopsy will be conducted. They were originally scheduled to be taken to Universal Funeral Parlour in Hung Hom before an onward flight to Manila this Sunday.
Baldon said the repatriation will now have to be rescheduled
He said Asuncion's family have been informed of the decision to conduct another autopsy. An aunt of Asuncion who works in Hong Kong reportedly gave her consent to the autopsy Friday.
He said the Consulate will try to request for a public viewing of the maid's remains before her final flight home.
In Manila, Asuncion's sister Jenevieve A. Javier, told The SUN her family wants the Hong Kong police to conduct their own autopsy to clear doubts surrounding Lorain's death.
Asuncion was found dead on the garden below the 22nd-storey flat of her female employer's father in Shenzhen on July 24,
An initial autopsy by the Shenzhen police shortly after Asuncion's death, as well as a follow-up examination of her body by a private forensic expert last mont, both ruled out foul play. The autopsies concluded she died from injuries consistent with a fall.
Meanwhile, Asuncion's employers, the couple Gu Hauiyu and Ms Liu., remain under investigation by the Hong Kong police in connection with the maid's frequent trips to Shenzhen with them.
Gu and Liu are due to report back to the police headquarters by the end of December.
