Lam Kor-wan Hong Kong serial killer Country: Hong Kong

Biography of Lam Kor-Van

Introduction
Lam Kor-Van, also known as Lam Kwok-wai, is a Hong Kong serial killer who gained notoriety as the most dangerous murderer in the country's history. He was responsible for the brutal killings of four women between the ages of 17 and 31. Lam worked as a taxi driver, using this occupation to facilitate his criminal activities by targeting his female passengers.

The Jars Murderer
In the English press, Lam became known as 'The Jars Murderer' due to his habit of meticulously storing intimate body parts of his victims in airtight plastic containers. His macabre collection went beyond organs, as Lam was an avid photographer and often captured his victims on film and video. Disturbingly, a film was discovered in his possession, showing him engaged in sexual acts with one of his victims' corpses. Chinese journalists referred to Lam as 'The Rainy Night Butcher' because he committed some of his crimes during bad weather and at night.

Double Life
Lam lived with his brother, who was unaware of his sibling's murderous activities. Lam operated at night while the rest of the family was absent, dismembering his victims during the day. He transported the remains of the murdered women in his taxi to different burial sites on Hong Kong Island or the New Territories. Eventually, the police managed to locate all the burial sites.

Arrest and Trial
Lam was arrested by an undercover police officer on August 17, 1982, in a Kodak store while attempting to develop photographs of his latest victim. The store manager noticed the disturbing content of the photos and alerted the police, leading to Lam's arrest when he returned to collect the developed pictures. Despite denying his involvement and claiming that a friend had asked him to develop the photos, Lam's alibi fell apart as no such friend ever appeared. During a search of his home, detectives discovered an old box containing pornography, photos of severed body parts, video tapes, and several airtight plastic containers with female organs.

Lam's trial took place on April 8, 1983, and after 21 days, the all-male jury found him guilty of the four murders. Initially sentenced to death by hanging, his punishment was later commuted to life imprisonment on August 29, 1984, following the gradual abolition of the death penalty in Hong Kong. Lam Kor-Van is currently serving his sentence at Shek Pik Prison.

Film Portrayals
In 1992, Hong Kong actor Simon Yam portrayed Lam Kor-Van in the surrealist horror film 'Doctor Lamb.' Two years later, Lawrence Ng took on the role of Lam in the thriller 'The Underground Banker,' showcasing a fictionalized version of Lam after his release from prison and his involvement in murders to help a friend seeking revenge on Hong Kong triads. The 1999 film 'Trust me U Die,' also known as 'The New Dr. Lamb,' has no connection to Lam Kor-Van's character, except for Simon Yam's presence as the lead actor.