Australian student in court accused of Hong Kong taxi driver murder

Australian student in court accused of Hong Kong taxi driver murderHong Kong - A 22-year-old Australian appeared in a Hong Kong court Monday morning charged with the murder of a taxi driver who died in a fatal crash while he was sitting next to him.

Kelsey Michael Mudd, a student at a US university who was visiting Hong Kong, was front seat passenger in the taxi which broke through a crash barrier and collided with three other cars.

The accident early Saturday morning is believed to have taken place after a dispute between Mudd and taxi driver Wong Chi-ming, 58, a father of two who was declared dead in hospital hours later.

After paramedics removed the taxi driver and tried to treat Mudd's injuries at the scene, he allegedly jumped into the driver's seat and drove the taxi off into the path of oncoming traffic.

The taxi traveled only about 50 metres before colliding with another taxi, injuring the 44-year-old driver of the second cab. Two female passengers in the taxi were uninjured.

Mudd was initially arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, but was charged with murder after being questioned by police in a custody ward in hospital.

He appeared in Hong Kong's Eastern Magistrates Court Monday morning still bearing the facial injuries from the accident and wearing a surgical mask. His parents were in court.

No plea was taken a request for bail was rejected. Mudd was remanded in custody until July 27 for further police investigations to be conducted. (dpa)