Court views CCTV footage of shooting (ST 9 Jan)
A POLICEMAN’S account of how he had shot and killed a suspect two years ago came to life yesterday when closed circuit television footage of the incident was shown in a coroner’s court at an inquiry into the man’s death.
CCTV footage of the shooting at Outram Park MRT station on March 6, 2008 showed Lim Bock Song looking at a directory board on the platform before asking a male commuter for assistance.
Lim, 43, a mental patient, had been involved in a fatal argument earlier in the day and the police were looking for him.
Soon afterwards, two policemen appeared on the screen, one of whom beckoned to Lim.
The unemployed man was seen reaching into his sling bag and taking out an object before charging at Staff Sergeant Azli Othman, 30, of the Bukit Merah East Neighbourhood Police Centre.
Staff Sgt Azli drew his service revolver, but Lim continued to advance towards him.
Staff Sgt Azli retreated backwards until he reached the glass panel of the platform, where he fired at the man. Lim collapsed and died of a gunshot wound to his chest.
The coroner’s inquiry is also into the death of Mr Tan Ah Chang, 52, an odd-job labourer who had quarrelled with Lim earlier that day at the Jalan Kukoh food centre.
Investigation officer Ray Ang Ghim Sing from the Criminal Investigation Department said the two men were seated five tables apart. As Mr Tan went to return a bowl to a stall, he stopped to talk to a man sitting with Lim.
A female friend who was with Mr Tan heard him tell Lim that he was not talking to him. A quarrel broke out between the two before Mr Tan returned to his table.
Several witnesses saw Lim take out a knife from his sling bag and walk over to Mr Tan. He muttered an apology, then hit him in the abdomen.
Mr Tan got up, bleeding, to move away, but Lim went after him and stabbed him a few more times. Mr Tan died on the spot of stab wounds to the abdomen.
Senior Station Inspector Ang said that Lim, who was being treated at the Institute of Mental Health for depression and other problems including drug abuse, also had a history of inflicting injuries on himself and others.
Insp Ang said there was no evidence to suggest that the attack on Mr Tan was premeditated, nor was there any animosity between the two men.
The inquiry continues next Monday.
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