A brave former Hong Kong policewoman died just days after being attacked by a gang of masked, armed robbers who held her captive and ransacked her home, an inquest heard today.
Hang Yin Leung, 64, who ran a Chinese Takeaway with her husband Chun Yau, was able to give a statement to detectives before being taken ill in Milton Keynes police station.
It was discovered she had suffered a heart attack, her condition deteriorated and she died 11 days later.
Today Milton Keynes Coroner’s Court heard evidence she gave to police in the days between the attack and her death.
Hang Yin Leung, 64, ran a Chinese Takeaway with her husband Chun Yau, pictured together
Summarising her statement, Assistant Coroner Adam Smith said Hang Yin described how six men in balaclavas and fake leather gloves burst into the home she shared with her husband in Orne Gardens, Bolbeck Park, Milton Keynes on 31 January 2017.
Hang, who was petite and only 5 feet 2, said: ‘Male one was 6 feet 2 tall in his 30s. He knocked the door. He asked the number of persons in the house and I said ‘one’.
‘After a few seconds he came back. He knocked and kicked the door and entered. Five of the men ran upstairs.
‘Male one pushed me down to the floor of the lounge and used an ice pick to threaten me.
‘I struggled and he used his hand to hit me three to four times to the back of my head.
‘After 15 minutes they came down from upstairs. They asked me a few times ‘Money Money’, but I did not respond. I was not injured, but my heart was jumping very fast.’
The inquest heard she chased the men away from the home.
Hang Yin Leung gave evidence to Thames Valley Police but died days later of her injuries
They stole cash, including Canadian and Hong Kong dollars, and jewellery, including a Rolex watch and Mrs Leung’s Hong Kong police long service medal.
Hang Yin, who had fought breast cancer and had diabetes, died in hospital 11 days later on 11th February 2017.
Today DC Jenny Champan, of Thames Valley Police Major Crime Unit, told the hearing the murder case had been ‘filed’ without any person being charge.
She said: ‘There was no forensic opportunity at the house. No DNA, no fingerprints left at the scene by the suspects. There was no CCTV evidence in the vicinity. House to House inquiries were carried out, but nobody heard anything. We couldn’t show who had been there.’
Four men were arrested, but never charged. In May 2018 Channel 4 broadcast a programme called catching a killer, but nobody has been charged.
Three men who had been in a van in the area were traced, but there was not considered to be enough evidence against them.
No action was taken against a man who exchanged Canadian and Hong Kong dollars.
In a statement Paramedic Laura Bennett said she had wanted Hang Yin to go to hospital that night, but she did not want to go.
Four men were arrested, but never charged. In May 2018 Channel 4 broadcast a programme called catching a killer, but nobody has been charged
Her husband Chun Yau said they had come to the UK in 1991 and they ran the Jade Gardens in Walnut Tree, Milton Keynes from 2006.
At the time of the raid his wife had been ill with a cold and stayed at home while he was at work.
Earlier Chun Yau said the killers had showed ‘no humanity.’ He said they had planned to retire, travel the world and settle in Hong Kong.
Her son Keith said he was at work in London when she called him after the attack. He said: ‘She was a very strong woman who had been through a lot in her life. ‘
Keith said he was with her when she gave the police her statement and described what she went through as ‘an horrendous ordeal.’
He said she fell ill at the police station and he took her to the accident and emergency department.
He said: ‘She was a strong, indomitable woman who had battled breast cancer. ‘