The alleged murder that sparked HK's crisis

This is the man who's sparked Hong Kong's months long crisis.

He was speaking to the press outside a prison on Wednesday (October 23).

20-year-old Chan Tong-kai is a murder suspect, in a case the government used to push a hugely controversial extradition bill.

That same bill drew millions onto the streets in June, in ongoing protests that have since morphed into wider calls for democracy, in the Chinese ruled city.

But these escalating protests all started with the murder case.

Chan is accused of murdering his girlfriend while in Taiwan, before returning to Hong Kong.

And because of a lack of an extradition agreement between the two places, criminal suspects can't be sent back for trial.

Police found no evidence of the murder in Hong Kong - so on Wednesday he walked free, having only served time for money laundering - which was the only crime they found him guilty of.

Government officials said cases like these were making the city a haven for criminals.

And used it to push through the extradition bill.

It would have covered Greater China, including Taiwan, but also Macau - and - crucially the mainland.

Opponents said it would have put them at the mercy of China's justice system, where human rights can't be guaranteed.

After months of unrest the bill was reluctantly withdrawn.

But the crisis has spiraled way beyond it.

That takes us back to today, where Chan bowed and apologized to the family of his ex-girlfriend.

He said he'd made an unforgivable mistake.

And that he's willing to turn himself in to Taiwanese authorities.

But - now Hong Kong and Taiwan are clashing over the next steps.

Hong Kong authorities said he should be free to do so.

But with no extradition treaty - they won't let Taiwan send a security escort for Chan's flight.

Taiwan said this was - 'unbelievable.'

So when, how, or even if he will stand trial in Taiwan remains to be seen.

The last update from Wednesday is this: lawmakers formally withdrew the extradition bill in the city's legislature.

But with protest slogans now calling for a revolution - Wednesday's eventful day in politics is unlikely to calm the unrest on the streets.