NSW:Brain-injured man won't face murder trial

AAP General News (Australia)
08-18-2011
NSW:Brain-injured man won't face murder trial

By Margaret Scheikowski

SYDNEY, Aug 18 AAP - A Korean national who was bashed to death in a Sydney factory
had told a friend "the old man" would be responsible if he went missing, a judge has been
told.

Jong Hwa Park, 32, had also said it worried him most that he had to "sleep in the same
area as him", according to a crown case statement tendered to the NSW Supreme Court on
Thursday.

Justice Elizabeth Fullerton was conducting a hearing into the mental fitness of Do
Hyun Chong, 69, who had shared a residence above the factory with the victim.

He is charged with murdering Mr Park on May 17, 2009, at King's Smelter scrap metal
factory at Wetherill Park, in Sydney's west.

The victim died of multiple blunt force injuries which police believed were caused
by a solid metal pole.

Mr Chong was the business partner of a brother-in-law of Mr Park, who had arrived in
Australia less than two months before his death to supervise various aspects of the company.

Two months after Mr Park's death, Chong sustained serious injuries, including a fractured
skull and brain injury, when his vehicle swerved into the path of an oncoming truck.

Months later he was charged with the murder.

After considering medical, psychiatric and other material, the judge concluded Chong
was mentally unfit to face trial and will hand down her reasons at a later date.

She directed he be kept at the aged care and rehabilitation unit at the Long Bay jail
hospital and that he be referred to the Mental Health Review Tribunal.

The crown statement said police investigators were informed that Chong had been suspected
of stealing of $150,000 of the company monies and the directors planned to come to Australia
to deal with issues related to him.

Mr Park's sisters also indicated he had complained about having a "hard time" with
Chong, whom he called "the old man".

He allegedly said Chong verbally abused him and was difficult to live with.

The statement said Mr Park had communicated with a friend on Cyworld, similar to Facebook
but in Korean, and told him of his concerns about "the old man".

"I am worried too ... how crazy he will turn ... because he knows that the head office
is now aware he has taken the money," he allegedly said.

He also reportedly said, "I am in a bit of danger."

When his friend asked, "Wouldn't he know that you were the one who had informed them?",
Mr Park replied, "Exactly," according to the statement.

AAP mss/tr/jl/de

KEYWORD: CHONG

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