Key Takeaways
- Shulai Wang, a 70‑year‑old Chinese woman, was found dead in black rubbish bags at Gulf Harbour Marina in March 2024.
- Four members of the Liu family – Kaixiao Liu, Lanyue Xiao, Xiuyun Li and Jingui Liu – are on trial for manslaughter and kidnapping, each pleading not guilty and representing themselves with standby lawyers.
- The Crown alleges Wang came to the Liu residence seeking religious instruction, was confined to a tent, denied food and medical care, and later placed in a suitcase before her death.
- Numerous handwritten Chinese notes recovered from the house – translated by Cyril Young – reveal an “unconventional” religious lifestyle, including covenants of soul and body, a self‑styled “kingdom,” and a point‑system regulating the women’s behaviour.
- The notes document Wang’s daily chores, criticisms of her kneeling and eating speed, and explicit threats that non‑compliance would result in tighter restraints or being placed in a suitcase.
- After Wang’s disappearance, the notes describe efforts to conceal the body, including using multiple rubbish bags, removing air, and storing the remains in a vehicle boot.
- Later entries reflect the family’s awareness of the discovery of the body and contain troubling statements suggesting mutual intent to harm Wang, while also expressing remorse and a desire to “remember the lesson of that dead person.”
- Judge Mathew Downs warned the jury not to let emotional reactions to the defendants’ unconventional beliefs influence their verdict, emphasizing that the trial concerns specific alleged offences, not religious practice.
Background of the Investigation
In March 2024, police discovered black rubbish bags containing a human body floating at Gulf Harbour Marina. Forensic examination identified the remains as those of Shulai Wang, a 70‑year‑old woman from Hainan province, China. The discovery prompted a homicide investigation that led authorities to a residence in Orewa, north Auckland, where Wang had been staying with the Liu family. Four family members – Kaixiao Liu, his wife Lanyue Xiao, his mother Xiuyun Li, and his father Jingui Liu – were arrested and charged with manslaughter and kidnapping. All four pleaded not guilty and elected to represent themselves, with standby lawyers available to assist if needed. The case proceeded to trial at the Auckland High Court, where the Crown presented a narrative built largely from dozens of handwritten notes recovered from the house.
The Crown’s Allegations
Prosecutors contend that Wang came to the Liu household seeking religious guidance from Kaixiao Liu, whom the family addressed as “Lord,” “Master,” or “Teacher,” while Lanyue Xiao was referred to as “Queen.” According to the Crown, Wang was subsequently confined to a makeshift tent on the property, denied adequate food and medical attention after she failed to observe strict household rules. The prosecution further alleges that, following an unsuccessful escape attempt, Wang was placed inside a suitcase, where she ultimately succumbed to neglect or asphyxiation. The Crown’s case rests heavily on the translated notes, which they argue detail the coercive environment, the rules governing behaviour, and the steps taken to conceal Wang’s death.
The “Unconventional” Religious Lifestyle Revealed in Notes
The seized documents, written in Chinese and translated by experienced translator Cyril Young, include items such as a “Letter of Conversion,” a “Covenant,” a “Covenant of the Soul,” and a “Covenant of the Body.” These texts portray the Liu household as a self‑declared religious group, with Liu as its spiritual leader. One woman’s “Letter of Conversion” begins, “I’m grateful to have the opportunity to be converted to the secret LIU family of the tribe of Judah, descendants of David,” indicating an attempt to forge a biblical lineage. The “Covenant of the Body” notes, signed by multiple women, pledge mutual love relationships with Liu (“Mr. KL”), agreement to bear children, and affection among the women, all asserted as voluntary acts. The notes also reference the establishment of a “kingdom” with “many servants,” suggesting a hierarchical, insular community that operated outside conventional societal norms.
Behavioural Monitoring and the Point System
Among the notes was a daily log, attributed to Xiuyun Li (identified as “Ya”), that recorded the good and bad behaviours of the women residing in the house. Behaviours earned or lost points, which appeared to influence privileges such as meals, access to the main house, or eligibility for “treatment.” The log entries note tasks like picking and washing vegetables, turning soil, watering plants, and providing childcare. Failures to meet expectations – such as not kneeling properly or eating too slowly – resulted in point deductions and, according to the notes, direct consequences for the next meal. This system created a coercive feedback loop where compliance was tied to basic sustenance and freedom of movement.
Specific Incidents Involving Shulai Wang
Several entries directly reference Wang by her given name, Shulai. A note dated 3 March 2024 records, “Shulai’s swollen face couldn’t have been faked,” and describes her failure to kneel upright despite reminders, suggesting possible physical distress or illness. Another note from the same period mentions Wang being asked to squat with the assistance of other women. On 6 March, a frantic entry describes Wang running to a neighbour’s yard; the family swiftly retrieved her, with the note stating, “Sulai [Shulai] listened to the evil thoughts in her own mind and led herself to destruction step by step.” Women who assisted in returning her were awarded points. The same day’s notes also mention placing someone on a “little black bed” to induce repentance and warn that screaming would lead to tighter restraints or being placed in a suitcase.
Evidence of Concealment and Disposal
The notes become especially grim after 7 March. An entry from that date states there was “no movement,” implying Wang had ceased to show signs of life. A subsequent note from 8 March details instructions: “get rid of the gas/air,” “put something to cover it in the boot,” and “remove the clothes … just leave a layer of under clothes.” It continues, “Need to use two bags, in case one is not enough, 2 bags, 3 bags are fine…”, indicating a plan to place the body in black rubbish bags and store it in a vehicle boot. Later that day, the notes record that Wang’s name no longer appears in the behavioural log, suggesting she was removed from the household’s daily accounting. Police later examined the garage – identified as an area of interest – and found four small spots that reacted to blood tests, though further analysis was inconclusive.
Post‑Disposal Reflections and Threats
Following the alleged disposal, the notes reveal the family’s awareness of the discovery of the rubbish bags in water. A note dated 27 March 2024, apparently authored by Jingui Liu, expresses despair: “When you think I am useless and you don’t need me, just like sending me to the airport, send me to the No. 1 bridge and give me two bags of stones. I’ll walk into the sea by myself.” Later entries from mid‑April contain a disturbing admission: “We wanted to be good to her, but we clashed, we mutually/would mutually wanted to kill … But she on her own definitely wouldn’t be able to kill us, so it will definitely be her who dies.” These statements suggest a shared, if conflicted, intention to cause Wang’s death, juxtaposed with expressions of regret and a desire to “remember the lesson of that dead person.”
Judicial Instructions and Ongoing Trial
Throughout the proceedings, Judge Mathew Downs repeatedly cautioned the jury to separate their evaluation of the defendants’ alleged crimes from any judgment about their unconventional religious beliefs or living arrangements. He stressed, “The defendants are not on trial for their religious beliefs or living arrangements; they are on trial for specific alleged offences.” The judge also warned against allowing emotional reactions to the disturbing content of the notes to sway deliberations. The trial continues at the Auckland High Court, with cross‑examination by the defendants expected to resume on Monday. The outcome will hinge on whether the jury finds the Crown’s proof of manslaughter and kidnapping beyond reasonable doubt, based largely on the documentary evidence and testimony surrounding Wang’s final days.