Strange Case Of Policeman Who Shot Himself Five... (Press, 13 June 1980)

On 13 June 1980, a troubling situation regarding the death of Inspector John MacLennan, a Scottish expatriate policeman in Hong Kong, has raised significant public unease and highlighted potential flaws in the colony’s judicial processes. The case emerged after the colony's Attorney-General, John Griffiths, declared that MacLennan had committed suicide, despite a jury’s recent “open” verdict during the inquest, which failed to determine whether his death resulted from suicide or murder. MacLennan was found dead in his Kowloon flat on 15 January 1980, with five bullet wounds in his body. Evidence presented at the inquest suggested that while it was theoretically possible for an individual to inflict multiple wounds upon themselves, the locked door to his apartment and further investigations into the accessibility of the flat raised doubts about this conclusion. Notably, a journalist was able to enter through a window later, contradicting the assertion that entry by an outsider was impossible. Prior to his death, MacLennan had been subjected to internal police investigation over allegations related to homosexual activities, and he was reportedly set to be interviewed again by colleagues shortly before his untimely demise. However, many relevant pieces of evidence regarding these investigations were deemed irrelevant by the coroner and excluded from the inquest. The Attorney-General’s claims that he possessed undisclosed evidence, which led to his assertion of suicide, ignited fierce backlash. The jury foreman called for public disclosure of this evidence, and many in the liberal segments of Hong Kong society condemned Griffiths’ actions, claiming it was inappropriate for him to make such a declaration without presenting all evidence to the jury. The Attorney-General’s subsequent silence only intensified the criticisms, as many believed his stance indicated a cover-up involving higher government officials. This situation has led to broader discussions about the integrity of the judicial system in Hong Kong, with newspapers and public commentators calling for a renewed examination of the case. Many expressed scepticism that the Legislative Council, which is considered heavily influenced by the Governor's appointees, would initiate any meaningful review of the case. The impression of a potential cover-up, especially given the past allegations involving senior police officers and homosexual activities, only serves to deepen public distrust. Critics are increasingly concerned about the reliability of a justice system that claims to combat corruption while possibly demanding a re-evaluation of its functioning. The death of Inspector MacLennan remains a contentious issue, shedding light on larger concerns about judicial processes and the rule of law in Hong Kong.

The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact

The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand