A 70-year-old woman who travelled from China to New Zealand for religious teaching was allegedly subjected to “practical servitude” before her body was discovered floating off Auckland’s Gulf Harbour in March 2024, a court has heard.
The trial of four family members accused in connection with the death of Shulai Wang began this week at the High Court in Auckland.
According to the Crown, Wang had travelled to New Zealand to live with and receive religious instruction from Kaixiao Liu, 38, who allegedly referred to himself as “Lord”. Prosecutors said Liu’s wife, Lanyue Xiao, called herself “Queen”, while Liu’s parents also held elevated positions within the household.
The Crown alleged Wang and several other women lived under strict conditions at the Orewa home, described during proceedings as “practical servitude”.
Wang’s body was discovered on March 12, 2024, after fisherman Paul Middleton pulled black plastic bags from the water while fishing at Gulf Harbour Marina. Inside, he found human remains and immediately contacted the police, as reported by Stuff.
Prosecutor Emma Kerr told the jury that Wang’s body had been folded into a fetal position, bound with black tape around her head, wrists and body, with heavy rice bags filled with stones attached to it.
Police later traced the rice bags to purchases allegedly made by Liu, which became a breakthrough in the homicide investigation known as Operation Parade, Stuff has reported.
The Crown said CCTV footage showed a group of people moving between a white Mercedes van and a marina bridge on the night Wang’s body was allegedly disposed of.
Liu, Xiao, Liu’s mother, Xiuyun Li, and father Jingui Liu have all pleaded not guilty to charges including manslaughter and kidnapping. Liu and Xiao also face charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice, as reported by Stuff.
During the investigation, police discovered several women living at the Orewa property alongside Liu’s family. One woman reportedly told officers she had arrived from China with Wang.
The court heard Wang had allegedly been punished in the days before her death for violating house rules. Food was reportedly withheld from her and she was allegedly confined in a tent outside the property.
After attempting to escape over a fence to a neighbouring property, prosecutors allege Wang was restrained with tape and later placed in a suitcase after screaming.
A diary entry found by police allegedly stated there was “no more sound” coming from Wang.
The Crown further alleged that recordings and journals recovered during the investigation captured discussions about Wang’s treatment and her portrayal as a “traitor” and “threat to God’s family”, as quoted by Stuff.
Prosecutors claim the defendants worked together under Liu’s direction both before and after Wang’s death, including allegedly disposing of her body and maintaining a false explanation about her disappearance.
Before their arrest, Liu and Xiao allegedly told Wang’s son in China that she had died of natural causes and wished to be buried at sea.
Addressing the jury, Liu denied wrongdoing and said: “We want to find out the truth, we have been trying and asking people who may know the truth,” as quoted by Stuff.
His wife told jurors to carefully assess the Crown’s narrative and warned of possible misinterpretations of evidence.
The trial before Justice Mathew Downs is continuing.