Hong Kong, Jan. 31 (TNS): A Pakistani man will spend the rest of his life behind bars for committing a horrific and grisly murder, Hong Kong’s High Court Judge Kevin Zervos said.
Zervos’ comments come after Safdar Husnain, a 28-year-old security guard, was found guilty of murdering his girlfriend with an electric drill in 2016.
Following two days of deliberation, the High Court jury panel concluded Husnain unlawfully killed Andrea Bayr, a 25-year-old Eurasian mother of four.
While Husnain could be sentenced to life in prison, Zervos adjourned the sentencing until this morning.
Husnain used a six-inch electric drill and penetrated eight centimeters into Bayr’s head at the construction site he worked at, after the couple had a fight.
Though he denied a count of murder, he admitted killing Bayr while under the influence of drugs. He added that he believed she had turned into a witch.
Ordering Husnain to stand, Zervos announced: “A life imprisonment will be mandatory, but I will adjourn the sentencing until [Wednesday] to provide reasons.”
Husnain remained emotionless as an Urdu interpreter translated the ruling to him, but his sister immediately covered her face and started wailing.
The trial lasted days, and the seven-member jury took 12 hours to reach a verdict. They returned to the courtroom at about 1pm, saying they had reached a majority verdict of six to one.
“We have found him guilty,” the panel told Justice Zervos, who thanked them for performing a “difficult task,” and released them from service.
The gruesome killing occurred in the early hours of March 29, 2016 on a construction site near the junction of Tin Hau Road and Hung Cheung Road in Tuen Mun, where Husnain worked.
