Key Takeaways
- The body of 70‑year‑old Shulai Wang was found wrapped in rubbish bags in Auckland’s Gulf Harbour on 12 March 2024, weighing only 25.6 kg and measuring 160 cm in length.
- Forensic pathologist Dr Kilak Kesha testified that the body showed moderate decomposition, making it impossible to confirm the exact time of death or the weight at death.
- Bruising on the arms, wrists, face (around the eyes and cheeks) and back of the head indicated blunt‑force trauma, though no pattern or specific object could be identified.
- An abdominal abscess was noted, but it was not considered a cause of death; no fractures were found, and the woman’s teeth, hair and nails were in good condition, arguing against prolonged starvation.
- The Crown alleges that Wang was starved, punished for breaking group rules, bound in tape after a failed escape attempt, and ultimately suffocated while being forced into a foetal position with rice‑bag weights on her chest.
- Defence counsel suggested that some bruising could have resulted from self‑inflicted slaps or a fall, and highlighted the lack of chronic weight‑loss signs.
- The prosecution claims the defendants kept detailed diaries and recordings, fabricating a story that Wang had killed herself or fallen and died, later instructing others to say she “fell and died, was wrapped up and buried at sea.”
- All four accused – Kaixiao Liu, his wife Lanyue Xiao, and his parents Xiuyun Li and Jingui Liu – have denied kidnapping and manslaughter charges.
Discovery of the Body and Initial Findings
On 12 March 2024 a fisherman discovered a human body tightly wrapped in rubbish bags floating near Gulf Harbour, Auckland. Police recovered the remains and identified them as those of 70‑year‑old Shulai Wang, a woman who had arrived in New Zealand from Hainan Island, China, in August 2023 seeking religious instruction. The body was immediately transferred to the forensic pathology unit for a post‑mortem examination. Initial observations noted that the corpse was markedly underweight for its height, prompting further investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.
Post‑Mortem Examination Details
Dr Kilak Kesha, the forensic pathologist who conducted the autopsy, testified before the High Court jury that the post‑mortem was completed the day after the body’s recovery. The examination revealed that Wang measured 160 cm in length and weighed 25.6 kg. The body showed moderate decomposition, which limited the ability to draw definitive conclusions about the exact moment of death. Dr Kesha emphasized that decomposition causes loss of bodily fluids and tissue mass, making it impossible to ascertain the victim’s weight at the time of death with certainty.
Weight and Decomposition Considerations
When asked by Crown prosecutor Henry Steele to contextualise the 25.6 kg figure for a person of Wang’s stature, Dr Kesha explained that the observed weight was likely lower than her actual weight at death due to post‑mortem fluid loss. He noted that there was “no evidence of prolonged chronic weight loss,” pointing out that her hair and nails were not brittle and her teeth remained in good condition—signs that would typically appear after months of severe malnutrition. This observation undercut the prosecution’s claim that Wang had been subjected to long‑term starvation.
Evidence of Trauma and Bruising
The autopsy revealed multiple areas of bruising: on the arms and wrists, around the eyes and cheeks, and on the back of the head. Dr Kesha interpreted these as consistent with blunt‑force trauma occurring prior to death. However, he stressed that the bruising lacked a discernible pattern, preventing identification of a specific weapon or object that caused the injuries. The absence of a clear pattern also opened the door to alternative explanations, such as accidental impacts.
Medical Findings: Abscess, No Fractures, Dental Condition
In addition to the bruising, Dr Kesha reported the presence of an abscess in the abdominal cavity. He clarified that, while noteworthy, the abscess was not sufficient to have caused Wang’s death. Radiological and macroscopic inspection revealed no fractures anywhere in the skeleton, further arguing against a high‑impact fall or severe assault. The dental examination showed intact teeth without signs of decay or loss, reinforcing the view that prolonged nutritional deprivation was unlikely.
Cross‑Examination and Alternative Explanations
During cross‑examination by Philip Hamlin, standby lawyer for Xiuyun Li, Dr Kesha conceded that some of the observed bruising could plausibly result from self‑inflicted actions—such as slapping oneself very hard—or from a fall onto a hard surface. Hamlin probed whether a fall from a fence could produce facial and head bruising, to which Kesha affirmed that a hard impact could indeed cause such marks. These exchanges highlighted the difficulty of attributing the injuries unequivocally to intentional violence.
Crown’s Narrative: Alleged Motive, Confinement, and Escape Attempt
The prosecution’s case contends that Wang travelled to New Zealand to receive religious guidance from Kaixiao Liu and subsequently lived with Liu’s family at their Ōrewa residence, alongside five other women. According to the Crown, Wang was subjected to strict rules within the group; when she allegedly broke those rules, she was starved and punished. The Crown asserts that after a failed attempt to escape, Wang was bound in adhesive tape and forced into a foetal position, with rice‑bag weights placed on her chest and abdomen. Kesha testified that, if Wang had been alive during this binding, the restriction of her respiratory movements would have led to asphyxiation.
Defendants’ Denials and Diary Evidence
Kaixiao Liu, his wife Lanyue Xiao, and his parents Xiuyun Li and Jingui Liu have each pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping and manslaughter. The prosecution pointed to seized diary entries and audio‑visual recordings made by the defendants, which allegedly chronicle daily life in the household and detail the treatment of Wang. The Crown argues that these documents reveal a fabricated narrative—initially suggesting Wang was a traitor who threatened the group, then evolving into a claim that she had committed suicide, and finally instructing associates to state that she “fell and died, was wrapped up and buried at sea.”
Legal Proceedings and Prospects
The trial continues as the jury weighs the forensic testimony against the circumstantial evidence presented by both sides. Dr Kesha’s findings provide a crucial baseline: the body’s low weight, the presence of bruising without a definitive cause, the absence of fractures, and the lack of chronic starvation markers. Whether the jury concludes that Wang’s death resulted from intentional abuse, an accidental incident, or another cause will hinge on how they interpret the medical evidence alongside the documentary record and the defendants’ explanations. The outcome will not only determine the fate of the four accused but also shed light on the extent to which religious groups can exert control over vulnerable individuals in New Zealand.