Hong Kong judge tells jury to put aside emotions for ruling on Rurik Jutting double murder trial

The dreadfulness of the crime or sympathy towards the victims – including what the media has reported – should not influence verdict, says judge

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Rurik Jutting, a former banker, photographed in 2014 after his arrest. Photo: Reuters

Published: 3:30pm, 7 Nov 2016Updated: 11:40am, 24 Dec 2020

A judge told the jury to put aside their emotions and disgust yesterday when considering the case of British banker Rurik Jutting, accused of the savage, drug-fuelled murders of two Indonesian women two years ago.

Deputy High Court judge Mr Justice Michael Stuart-Moore explained on Monday that an alternate verdict for Rurik Jutting, 31, lies in manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility, if his lawyers can prove that – more likely than not – he was suffering from mental disorders that substantially impaired his control at the time of the 2014 killings.

Jutting has admitted he unlawfully killed Sumarti Ningsih, 23, and Seneng Mujiasih, 26, but denied they were murders.

The nine-strong jury of four women and five men is expected to retire on Monday to deliberate on the verdicts, after the judge delivers his final direction.

Stuart-Moore has directed the jury not to allow the dreadfulness of the crime or sympathy towards the victims to colour their judgement, as the case hinged on whether Jutting’s mental responsibility was substantially impaired when he carried out the killings.

“The point that he has an appalling private life is neither here nor there,” he told the jury.