Key Takeaways
- Shulai Wang, a 70‑year‑old woman from Hainan, China, was found dead in Gulf Harbour, New Zealand in March 2024; her body was discovered wrapped in plastic bags.
- Four family members—Kaixiao Liu, his wife Lanyue Xiao, and Liu’s parents Xiuyun Li and Jingui Liu—are on trial for Wang’s kidnapping and manslaughter.
- The Crown alleges Wang travelled to New Zealand to receive religious instruction from Liu and died after a failed escape attempt.
- Chunhong Wu, Wang’s youngest son, told police that his mother died of natural causes (heart disease) and that Liu had been entrusted to fulfil her wish for a sea burial.
- Police surveillance recordings show Liu instructing Wu to demand the release of Wang’s body and to apologise to the family for the alleged mishandling of the burial.
- Wang’s two older sons are estranged from the family and declined involvement in the repatriation of her body; her husband was not interviewed due to a medical condition.
- Officers who visited Hainan stressed that Liu’s religious group is not politically motivated, countering defence claims about the sensitivity of religion in China.
- The trial remains ongoing at the Auckland High Court.
Background of the Case
The proceedings centre on the death of Shulai Wang, a 70‑year‑old resident of Hainan province, China, whose body was discovered in Gulf Harbour, Auckland, in March 2024. Police found the remains tightly wrapped in plastic bags, prompting a homicide investigation that lasted roughly six months before her identity could be confirmed. The case quickly drew attention because of the alleged involvement of a religious group led by Kaixiao Liu, a New Zealand resident originally from China.
Charges Against the Defendants
Four individuals are facing charges: Kaixiao Liu, his wife Lanyue Xiao, and Liu’s parents Xiuyun Li and Jingui Liu. They are accused of kidnapping and manslaughter in relation to Wang’s death. The prosecution argues that Wang was brought to New Zealand under the pretence of receiving religious guidance from Liu, and that her subsequent death resulted from an unsuccessful attempt to escape the group’s control.
The Crown’s Narrative
According to the Crown, Wang travelled to New Zealand specifically to study with Liu’s religious organization. After arriving, she allegedly tried to leave the group’s residence but was prevented from doing so. The prosecution contends that during this confrontation Wang suffered fatal injuries, which were later concealed by wrapping her body in plastic and disposing of it in Gulf Harbour. The Crown asserts that the defendants’ actions constitute kidnapping (for detaining Wang against her will) and manslaughter (for causing her death through reckless or negligent conduct).
Testimony of Chunhong Wu
Chunhong Wu, Wang’s youngest son, played a pivotal role in the police investigation. During his interview, Wu stated that his mother died of natural causes—specifically heart disease or failure—and that she had wished to be buried at sea. He claimed Liu had been entrusted by Wang to fulfil this final request. Wu also described a conversation in which he video‑called his mother, who appeared healthy and waved at him, only to learn the next morning that she had been found dead. He said his mother had once jumped over a neighbour’s wall without injury, been returned by others, and later collapsed, an event he attributed to her heart condition.
Police Surveillance Recordings
Detectives presented audio recordings captured by surveillance devices installed at the Liu family’s Ōrewa home. In these recordings, Liu is heard directing Wu to demand that New Zealand authorities release Wang’s body so that he could bring it back to China for a proper burial. Liu also instructed Wu to express guilt toward the family that had been entrusted with the sea‑burial arrangements and to apologise to them in person. The prosecution used these tapes to argue that Liu was actively managing the narrative around Wang’s death and attempting to manipulate the legal process.
Family Estrangement and Limited Contact
Detective Beth Bates testified that Wang’s two older sons, Yingfen Wu and Yingzhi Wu, have been estranged from their parents since 2020 and expressed no interest in participating in the repatriation of their mother’s body. They told investigators that the matter should be left to “the third born,” Chunhong Wu. Wang’s husband, Yanyun Wu, was not interviewed by the New Zealand police because he suffers from a shrunken brain and required hospitalization, rendering him unable to provide a statement.
Officers’ Clarifications on Religion and Politics
During cross‑examination, defence counsel questioned whether the interviewing officers understood the seriousness of giving false statements in China. The officers responded that providing false statements is a grave offence anywhere in the world. Lanyue Xiao also asked whether the officers recognised that religion is a sensitive topic in China; Detective Bates affirmed that she had emphasised to her Chinese counterparts that Liu’s religious group is not politically motivated, aiming to dispel any notions of state‑linked extremism.
Current Status of the Trial
The trial continues at the Auckland High Court, with both the prosecution and defence presenting further evidence and witness testimony. The outcome will hinge on whether the jury accepts the Crown’s version—that Wang was unlawfully detained and died as a result of that detention—or the defence’s claim that her death was due to natural causes and that any actions taken by the defendants were lawful and respectful of her wishes. The case remains a focal point for discussions about religious groups, international legal cooperation, and the handling of cross‑border deaths in New Zealand.