 |
| Mallanao was found on the steps of Jardine House |
The charge of wounding with intent against two Filipinos held over the assault of a compatriot was elevated to murder on Thursday after their alleged victim was declared dead, five days after he was found unconscious in Central.
Friends said the plug to the machine that was keeping Bryan Cabaldo Mallanao alive was pulled after his wife who had flown in from the Philippines, gave consent.
 |
| Basahin ang detalye! |
Doctors had earlier declared the 41-year-old driver "brain dead" as he never regained consciousness after being rushed to Queen Mary Hospital at about 9pm on Saturday, Nov. 7.
Charged with his death were his erstwhile friends Roderick Pagay Jumao-as, 44 years old and also a driver; and Armando Manding Remoring, 52, an asylum seeker, who were allegedly with him at Jardine House just before he was found, alone and wounded.
 |
| Photo of the victim before he was picked up |
Jumao-as and Remoring both appeared at Eastern Court on Tuesday, each charged with wounding with intent.
Prosecutors said then that the charge would likely be upgraded to murder as Mallanao was near-death.
No details of the alleged crime were mentioned in court, but the charge said Jumao-as and Remoring "unlawfully and maliciously" wounded Mallanao harm" “with intent to cause (him) grievous bodily harm.”
A police report issued earlier said a passerby had called for help after finding the victim unconscious on a pavement outside Jardine House at 1 Connaught Place.
Rescuers rushed him to Queen Mary Hospital but he never regained consciousness.
 |
| Mallanao never regained consciousness |
A friend who was among several people who went to the hospital the next day said they were told by a doctor that Mallanao suffered a severe wound in the head and that the prospect for his recovery was dim.
CCTV footage from the scene apparently led to the arrest on Sunday of Jumao-as in Kowloon City, and Remoring in Wan Chai.
People who knew the three described them as friends who often hung out in Central to drink and watch online cockfighting.
Some unconfirmed reports said the dispute among the three started when Mallanao badgered Jumao-as about his poor alcohol tolerance, which resulted in the latter punching him, causing his head to hit the pavement.
Remoring allegedly managed to throw punches at Mallanao as well, despite efforts by three other people who were at the scene to separate them.
But after Mallanao fell unconscious all the five men fled, leaving him alone and wounded.
Both defendants were sent back to jail after the court hearing, and were told that they could apply for bail on Nov. 18.
The next hearing of the case has been set for Jan. 5, 2027.
