A jobless man accused of killing his girlfriend in a Hong Kong village house and illegally disposing of her body four years ago has claimed he mistakenly beat her to death while trying to help her lose weight by keeping her awake at night.

Ng Ka-sing, 29, is standing trial at the High Court for allegedly murdering his 30-year-old partner Yip Tsz-ching at their 700 sq ft flat in Galore Garden in Hung Shui Kiu between April 28 and 29, 2022.

The defendant had offered to plead guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter, which prosecutors rejected.

Ng was also charged with preventing the lawful burial of a body after he was seen pulling a wheelboard carrying Yip’s body, wrapped with a quilt and layers of plastic film, along Tin Ha Road in the early morning of April 29, 2022.

Senior public prosecutor Audrey Parwani said in her opening statement on Tuesday that Ng had given various explanations to police regarding Yip’s injuries, including extensive corrosive burns covering 55 per cent of her body.

“The prosecution does not accept the accused was telling the whole truth,” Parwani told the seven-member jury.