Key Takeaways
- Shulai Wang, a 70‑year‑old Chinese woman, was found dead in a stream after allegedly being held in “practical servitude” by a religious sect led by Kaixiao Liu and his family.
- Prosecutors say the sect imposed a strict points‑based rule system, punished Wang for alleged rule breaches, and ultimately killed her, wrapping her body in plastic, weighing it down with landscaping stones, and disposing of it in a Gulf Harbour stream.
- Evidence such as serial‑numbered rice bags, surveillance footage of a white van, and audio recordings/journal notes linked Kaixiao Liu to the purchase of materials and the transport of the body.
- Kaixiao Liu, his wife Xiao, and his father Jingui Liu are representing themselves at trial, pleading not guilty to kidnapping, manslaughter, interference with a body, attempting to pervert the course of justice, and (for Kaixiao Liu) failing to assist police.
- The defence maintains that the accused had no intent to harm Wang, claims the women’s testimonies are hearsay, and asks the jury to keep an open mind about who is responsible for the death.
Background of the Case
The case centres on the death of Shulai Wang, a 70‑year‑old woman originally from China, who was discovered deceased in a stream near Gulf Harbour on the Whangaparāoa peninsula. Police investigations revealed that Wang had been living with a small religious group at an Ōrewa residence, where she and five other female devotees were reportedly subjected to a regime described by prosecutors as “practical servitude.” The group was led by Kaixiao Liu, his wife Xiao, and his father Jingui Liu, who together exercised considerable control over the members’ daily lives.
Victim Identification and Initial Findings
Shulai Wang was formally identified by police as the victim after her body was recovered. A pathologist noted multiple blunt‑force injuries that occurred prior to death, indicating that Wang had suffered physical trauma. Crown prosecutor Emma Kerr emphasized that bruising does not occur after death, reinforcing the conclusion that the injuries were inflicted while Wang was still alive. The medical findings formed a cornerstone of the prosecution’s argument that Wang’s death was the result of assault rather than natural causes.
Alleged Control and Punishment System
According to Kerr’s opening submission, the sect operated under a “strict set of rules” measured by a points system. Members referred to Kaixiao Liu as “lord, master, or teacher” and his wife Xiao as “queen.” Wang, the eldest of the six women, allegedly violated these rules and was repeatedly punished. Kerr stated that the sect’s leader told followers that Wang “did not listen to God’s way, and how she did not repent,” suggesting that religious rhetoric was used to justify the punitive measures.
Evidence of Planning and Execution
Investigators uncovered audio recordings and journal notes from inside the Ōrewa home that detailed the treatment of Wang in the days leading up to her death, including an alleged escape attempt. These documents, combined with physical evidence, indicated premeditation. Prosecutors alleged that after Wang’s death, Kaixiao Liu, Xiao, and Jingui Liu wrapped her body in plastic, weighed it down with landscaping stones bought from Bunnings, and disposed of it in a stream near Gulf Harbour Marina.
Discovery of the Body
A local fisherman initially thought the recovered package might contain meat, then noticed clothing and assumed it was a bag of rags before seeing a hand protruding. Beside Wang’s body lay two 10 kg SunRice bags filled with stones. The serial numbers on those bags proved critical: they matched large purchases of the same rice brand made by Kaixiao Liu at Pak’nSave Albany weeks before the body was found, linking him directly to the materials used to conceal the corpse.
Surveillance and Movement Evidence
Footage from Pak’nSave Albany’s petrol station showed Kaixiao Liu filling a white van. The same vehicle was later captured on camera visiting the Gulf Harbour Marina on March 8, four days before Wang’s body was discovered. Marina surveillance revealed a group of five people—including children—walking between the van and a floodgate bridge while pushing a pram, consistent with the transportation of the weighted body. This visual evidence helped establish a timeline linking the sect leader to the disposal site.
Legal Proceedings and Self‑Representation
Kaixiao Liu, his wife Xiao, and his father Jingui Liu have elected to represent themselves at trial, pleading not guilty to a range of charges: kidnapping, manslaughter, interference with a body, attempting to pervert the course of justice, and (for Kaixiao Liu) failing to assist police. Justice Mathew Downs reminded the jury that a defendant’s choice to act as their own counsel should not bias their judgment, and he appointed an experienced criminal lawyer to be available should the defendants seek assistance during the trial.
Defence Statements
In his opening statement, Kaixiao Liu described the situation as “difficult” for both the court and his family, saying they sought “the truth” but had not received satisfactory answers from those who might know it. He requested that the five women who lived at the Ōrewa address be called as witnesses, dismissing their prior statements as hearsay and claiming he had urged them to tell him the truth, only to receive conflicting accounts. Xiao, acknowledging her limited English, affirmed her intention to speak truthfully and asked the jury to scrutinize whether the Crown’s narrative was supported by evidence. Jingui Liu, assisted by counsel Phil Hamlin, maintained that Li (his mother) had little contact with Wang and never intended to kidnap, imprison, or harm her.
Charges and Trial Outlook
Alongside the primary accusations, Kaixiao Liu and Xiao face charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice, while all three are charged with interfering with a body. The trial is expected to last between four and six weeks. The prosecution will rely heavily on the forensic findings, the rice‑bag evidence, surveillance footage, and the seized audio/journal material. The defence will challenge the reliability of the women’s testimonies, argue lack of intent to cause harm, and seek to raise reasonable doubt about who, if anyone, bears responsibility for Wang’s death. The judge’s admonition to keep an open mind frames the proceedings as a search for factual clarity amid competing narratives.