Key Takeaways
- Shulai Wang, a 70‑year‑old woman, was found dead in March 2024, her body folded, taped, weighted with rocks and floating in Auckland’s Gulf Harbour.
- Police identified the victim months later and filed the first charges on 30 June 2024 against Kaixiao Liu, his wife Lanyue Xiao, and his parents after they attempted to leave New Zealand on an international flight.
- Secret listening devices installed during a home search warrant captured Liu directing Wang’s adult son in China on how to speak to police, the media, and Chinese officials, including coaching him to feign confidence, avoid certain gestures, and fabricate a narrative of suicide.
- Liu repeatedly emphasized that the dumping of Wang’s body was a “burial at sea” and insisted there was no murderous evidence, while simultaneously suggesting a lucrative lawsuit against the New Zealand government to silence critics.
- The recordings reveal a coordinated effort to manipulate the son’s testimony, create a false religious‑free identity, and deter witnesses by threatening the loss of a purported $30 million payout.
- All four family members now stand trial in the High Court at Auckland on charges related to the homicide of Shulai Wang, with the prosecution relying heavily on the covert audio evidence.
Discovery of the Body
In March 2024 a local fisherman spotted a suspicious package floating in Auckland’s Gulf Harbour. Upon retrieval, authorities discovered the remains of Shulai Wang, a 70‑year‑old woman, tightly folded in half, bound with tape, and weighed down by rocks. The body was wrapped in plastic, indicating an attempt to conceal it and sink it permanently. The grim find prompted an immediate police response, though the victim’s identity was not immediately known.
Investigation Timeline and Initial Charges
Identifying Wang took several weeks, delaying formal police action. It was not until 30 June 2024 that investigators filed the first set of charges against Kaixiao Liu, his wife Lanyue Xiao, and his parents Jingui Liu and Xiuyun Li. The timing coincided with the couple’s attempt to board an international flight, suggesting a possible flight risk. The charges initially centred on tampering with a body, laying the groundwork for a broader homicide investigation as more evidence emerged.
Secret Surveillance and Recordings
During the execution of a search warrant at the Liu residence, police covertly installed listening devices. The resulting audio captured numerous conversations in which Liu discussed the case with Wang’s adult son living in China. Translations reveal that Liu referred to the sect’s leader as “Lord” and repeatedly stressed that the police had traced a serial number from a bag found with the body, commenting, “That’s how they got me.” These recordings became a cornerstone of the prosecution’s case, demonstrating Liu’s awareness of investigative techniques and his attempts to thwart them.
Liu’s Coaching of Wang’s Son
In the intercepted calls, Liu acted as a handler, advising the son on how to appear confident during police questioning. He warned against pointing or slamming the table, suggesting instead that slapping a thigh could convey emotion without seeming aggressive. Liu also instructed the son on how to respond to provocative questions, such as challenging the legitimacy of an autopsy, while cautioning him to avoid overt hostility that could undermine credibility. This detailed coaching illustrates a deliberate effort to shape the son’s testimony and manipulate public perception.
Legal Strategies and Media Manipulation
Beyond police interviews, Liu prepared the son for potential media engagement. He suggested that if anyone asked about the case, the son should claim he was expecting a $30 million payout from a lawsuit against the New Zealand government for mishandling his mother’s body. Liu further proposed sharing a portion of that hypothetical settlement with any witnesses who might cooperate, thereby creating a financial incentive to stay silent. The strategy aimed to both intimidate critics and construct a narrative of victimhood that could garner sympathy abroad.
Attempts to Mislead Authorities
Liu also directed the son to fabricate details about his whereabouts in video statements, cautioning him to avoid showing coconut or papaya trees—plants uncommon in New Zealand—to reinforce the illusion that he resided locally. He urged the son to describe Wang as impoverished and property‑less, emphasizing that the family had cared for her patiently and accompanied her on her “last journey.” These instructions were designed to bolster a false narrative of benevolent care and to distance the family from any suspicion of foul play.
Financial Narrative and Lawsuit Threat
A recurring theme in the recordings was the threat of a lucrative lawsuit. Liu warned that if the son or any associates “screwed the thing up,” they would receive “not even a penny.” By tying potential financial gain to cooperation, Liu sought to ensure that witnesses remained compliant. The mention of a $30 million payout served both as a motivator for the son to stay on message and as a deterrent against anyone who might consider speaking out, effectively weaponizing the prospect of wealth to suppress dissent.
Religious Facade and Denial
Despite the sect’s internal references to a “Lord,” Liu repeatedly told the son to tell Chinese authorities that the family had abandoned religion years ago. He instructed the son to declare that they were no longer religious, did not participate in any sect activities, and had merely purchased a new home to live a good life. This duality—maintaining religious language within the group while publicly denying any faith—highlights an attempt to shield the organization from scrutiny while preserving internal cohesion.
Family Dynamics and Alleged Motive
Liu’s statements also painted a picture of Wang’s supposed suicidal tendencies, claiming she had pushed housemates off a rooftop garden, then jumped from a ladder afterward, landing in a neighbour’s yard. He asserted that after the fall Wang could not move, was brought inside, and later stopped breathing, insisting that no one had harmed her. This narrative sought to reframe the death as a tragic accident or self‑inflicted act, deflecting culpability from the family and suggesting an internal psychological crisis as the cause.
Court Proceedings and Current Status
All four defendants—Kaixiao Liu, Lanyue Xiao, Jingui Liu, and Xiuyun Li—are presently on trial in the High Court at Auckland. The prosecution’s case rests heavily on the covert audio recordings, which demonstrate Liu’s direct involvement in coaching the son, fabricating stories, and attempting to obstruct justice. The defence has yet to publicly detail its counter‑arguments, but the evidence presented thus far points to a coordinated effort to conceal a homicide under the guise of a burial at sea and a fabricated suicide narrative.
Conclusion
The case of Shulai Wang reveals a sophisticated scheme in which family members used surveillance‑derived intelligence to manipulate a relative’s testimony, craft false media narratives, and threaten financial incentives to silence potential witnesses. The discovery of the body, the subsequent covert recordings, and the detailed instructions given to Wang’s son collectively illustrate a premeditated attempt to evade responsibility for a homicide. As the trial unfolds, the audio evidence will likely play a decisive role in determining whether the defendants are held accountable for Wang’s death or whether their constructed narratives succeed in swaying the court.