The 5 Most Disturbing Facts About The Hello Kitty Murder Case And The Killers' Current Status

Decades after it first shocked the world, the Hello Kitty murder case remains one of the most gruesome and controversial true crime stories in Hong Kong history. The horrific 1999 crime, which involved the abduction, torture, and dismemberment of a young woman whose remains were later found inside a large Hello Kitty mermaid doll, transcended the typical boundaries of a murder case to become a morbid cultural phenomenon. As of late 2025, the case continues to generate intense public discussion, particularly regarding the controversial manslaughter verdict and the current freedom status of the convicted perpetrators.

The details are so shocking that they are often censored or misreported, yet the core facts—a debt dispute escalating into weeks of unimaginable abuse—paint a dark picture of life in the shadows of Tsim Sha Tsui. The case exposed the brutal underbelly of Hong Kong's criminal world and ignited a fierce debate over justice and the adequacy of the legal system's response to extreme violence. Understanding the full scope requires looking past the sensational headline to the lives tragically involved.

The Tragic Biography of Fan Man-Yee and the Perpetrators

The victim, Fan Man-yee, and the three men convicted of her death—Wong Chi-hang, Leung Shing-cho, and Leung Wai-lun—were all deeply entwined in the city's nightlife and organised crime circles. Their profiles, detailed below, highlight the desperate circumstances that culminated in the infamous murder at a flat on Granville Road.

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Fan Man-Yee (Victim)

• Date of Birth: c. 1976
• Age at Death: 23 years old
• Profession: Nightclub Hostess
• Early Life: Fan Man-yee was reportedly abandoned by her family and spent her formative years in an orphanage until she was 15.
• Motive for Abduction: She allegedly stole a wallet containing HK$4,000 (approximately US$510) from the main perpetrator, Wong Chi-hang, to settle a debt.
• Abduction Location: Lai Yiu Estate, Hong Kong.

The Perpetrators

• Wong Chi-hang: The 34-year-old ringleader and pimp who orchestrated the abduction and torture over the stolen money. He was convicted of manslaughter.
• Leung Shing-cho: One of Wong’s accomplices, also convicted of manslaughter.
• Leung Wai-lun: The third accomplice, convicted of manslaughter. He was the youngest of the group.
• Key Detail: A 14-year-old girl, the girlfriend of one of the men, was a witness to the torture and later led police to the crime scene.

The 5 Most Disturbing Facts of the Hello Kitty Murder

The sheer depravity of the crime is what cemented its place as one of Hong Kong's most notorious cases. The details revealed during the 2000 trial were so graphic that they caused widespread public revulsion and international media attention.

1. Weeks of Unimaginable Torture

Fan Man-yee was held captive in the Granville Road apartment in Tsim Sha Tsui for approximately one month, from mid-March to mid-April 1999. During this time, she was subjected to constant, systematic torture by the three men. The abuse included beating her with bars, burning her feet with hot wax, forcing her to consume human waste, and other acts of extreme degradation and violence.

2. The Controversial Manslaughter Verdict

Despite the prolonged and horrific nature of the abuse, the three men—Wong Chi-hang, Leung Shing-cho, and Leung Wai-lun—were ultimately convicted of manslaughter, not murder, on December 7, 2000. The High Court jury accepted the argument that the perpetrators did not have the specific intent to kill, but rather intended to torture her. This verdict caused a public outcry, with many citizens feeling that justice had not been served for the victim’s brutal death.

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3. The Macabre Discovery in the Hello Kitty Doll

The case earned its chilling moniker from the way the victim's remains were discovered. After Fan Man-yee died from the sustained torture, the perpetrators dismembered her body. Her skull was boiled, and then her head—or parts of it—was placed and sewn inside a large, brightly coloured Hello Kitty mermaid doll. The rest of her remains were scattered in a bin and a canopy near the flat. This shocking juxtaposition of an innocent pop culture icon with a gruesome crime scene is what horrified the public and made the case globally infamous.

4. The Key Witness Who Broke the Case

The crime was only revealed when the 14-year-old girl, who was present during the torture and was the girlfriend of one of the men, was so traumatised that she walked into a police station and confessed to what she had witnessed. Her testimony was crucial in securing the convictions. The girl was later granted immunity in exchange for her cooperation and was placed under witness protection.

5. The Apartment's Haunting Legacy

The apartment at 31 Granville Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, where the murder took place, quickly became known as one of Hong Kong's most notorious "haunted" locations. The building was later demolished, but the address remains a dark landmark in the city’s true crime history. The psychological impact of the case was profound, leading to a surge in public interest in true crime and a lasting association between the popular Sanrio character, Hello Kitty, and unimaginable horror.

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The Current Status of the Hello Kitty Murderers in 2025

The most pressing question for those who followed the case is the current status of the three convicted men. Given the passage of over 25 years since the crime, the legal ramifications of their sentences have come to fruition, making this the most crucial update for a modern audience.

Leung Wai-lun's Release

The youngest perpetrator, Leung Wai-lun, had his initial life sentence overturned by the Court of Appeal. He was later re-sentenced to 18 years in prison for his role in the manslaughter. Since the crime occurred in 1999, his sentence would have been completed around 2017 or 2018, taking into account time served and potential good behaviour. It is widely understood that Leung Wai-lun has been released from custody and is now free, having paid his debt to society under the law. This release, while legally mandated, remains a deeply controversial topic for victims' rights advocates.

Wong Chi-hang and Leung Shing-cho

Wong Chi-hang and Leung Shing-cho were both sentenced to life imprisonment for manslaughter. However, in Hong Kong, a life sentence for manslaughter—unlike murder—is often subject to review by a Parole Board after a minimum term is served. While official, definitive 2025 updates on their exact parole status are scarce in mainstream media, two men’s life sentences were upheld on appeal due to the "merciless" nature of the killing and the perceived danger they posed to society.

Given the severity of the crime and the public outcry, it is highly probable that both Wong Chi-hang and Leung Shing-cho have served a significant minimum term, but may still remain incarcerated. The Hong Kong correctional system handles such sensitive cases with extreme discretion, meaning any potential parole or release would be conducted quietly, often with conditions of anonymity to prevent public backlash or vigilante action. The lack of recent news suggests they are either still in custody or living under new identities, keeping the case a constant, dark reminder of the limits of legal justice.