Man jailed for biting off district councillor’s ear

A man who bit off a district councillor’s ear during the 2019 protests was on Tuesday jailed for 14 and a half years – the heaviest sentence to date arising from the unrest.

The High Court heard that Joe Chen, 52, attacked three people with a knife on November 3 that year outside Cityplaza in Taikoo Shing, and bit off then district councillor Andrew Chiu’s left ear during the scuffle.

Chen was convicted after a jury trial in December last year of three counts of wounding with intent and one count of common assault.

In mitigation, Chen’s lawyer described him as an “apolitical” person who didn’t take part in the unrest, adding the defendant hopes to offer his sincere apology to the victims in the case for bringing them unforgettable trauma.

Chen’s wife also wrote a letter to the court, saying that in more than three decades since they met, he had never hurt her or anyone else even after he’s drunk.

However, High Court judge Judianna Barnes challenged this claim.

She cited a psychiatric report on the defendant which noted he had pointed a knife at his wife’s neck in the past, showing his violence tendencies.

Barnes went on to say Chen’s act in this case was “barbaric and unbelievable”.

She noted that Chiu has to put up with the inconvenience brought by an artificial ear that he has to wear.