 "Photo: South China Morning Post")
A Chico State student has been charged with the murder of a taxi driver following a bizarre traffic collision on the streets of Hong Kong.
Kelsey Lord Michael Mudd, 22, was charged in Hong Kong’s Eastern Magistrates' Court with the Saturday morning murder of 58-year-old Wong Chi-ming, according to an article in the Australian newspaper, The Age.
Mudd, a member of Chico State’s Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, was initially arrested under suspicion of taking a vehicle without authority and drunken driving. The charge was later amended to murder after Mudd was questioned in the custody ward at a hospital, a police spokesman said.
At press time, it was unclear how Wong sustained his fatal injuries.
Brian Sweat, vice president of communications and alumni relations at Phi Kappa Tau, declined to answer any questions and referred The Orion to Aaron Mascari, vice president of recruitment for the fraternity.
Mascari said that Mudd has been a member of the fraternity since 2006, and referred to him as “a great guy.”
Mudd, who was traveling on an Australian passport, was reportedly arguing with Wong in the taxi before the incident early Saturday morning.
The initial traffic collision occurred when the taxi smashed into a railing before hitting three other taxis, which were going in the opposite direction, according to a statement by the Hong Kong Police.
After paramedics arrived on the scene, removed Wong from the vehicle and attempted to treat Mudd's injuries, Mudd jumped into the driver's seat of the damaged taxi and drove into the path of oncoming traffic before colliding with another vehicle.
Magistrate Chin Lai told the court Monday that, because the case is so serious, Mudd could not be granted bail, but he can apply for a bail hearing in Hong Kong’s High Court, according to an article by The South China Morning Post.
Acting Principal Magistrate Bina Chainrai adjourned proceedings until July 27, pending further police investigation and a report on forensic findings from the scene, the Post reported.
Wong was married and had a son and a daughter, the Post reported.
Don Bunce can be reached at
newseditor@theorion.com.
