A New Zealand court has jailed a non secular sect chief over the death of an aged follower who had travelled from China to dwell with his household.
Kaixiao Liu was discovered guilty of manslaughter and kidnapping, and sentenced to more than 10 years in prison.
The physique of 70-year-old Shulai Wang had been discovered wrapped in rice luggage close to Auckland’s Gulf Harbour in March 2024, sparking a main murder investigation which ultimately led to Liu.
Liu, a musician who beforehand appeared in a expertise show in China, had denied the costs. He also denied he is a cult chief and said he only attracted followers through his music.
During the trial the court heard that Wang had travelled from Hainan island in China to New Zealand in August 2023.
She moved in with Liu and his household at their home, which Liu had called “the Ark”, along with several other feminine followers.
Prosecutors said that the girls acted in “servitude” to Liu and his household, and their lives were tightly managed by Liu, where they referred to him as “Lord” or “Master”.
Wang reportedly spent her days taking care of Liu’s kids, learning scripture, and planting greens.
The court heard that Wang had struggled to comply with the strict guidelines, presumably due to her previous age, and was incessantly disciplined.
In March 2024, Wang tried to escape but was caught and restrained. She died later that day, the court heard.
The court heard that Liu, his household, and his followers dumped Wang’s physique close to a marina at Gulf Harbour. Liu had taken his kids along for the journey “as camouflage”.
The physique was discovered by a fisherman days later. Police ultimately traced the rice luggage used to wrap Wang’s physique to Liu, who had made unusually giant purchases of that model of rice.
Besides Liu, his spouse, Lanyue Xiao, was sentenced to practically eight years in jail for kidnapping and manslaughter, amongst other costs. His mom, Xiuyun Li and father, Jingui Liu, had earlier been convicted of kidnapping and misconduct to human stays and are due to be sentenced later this yr.
On Tuesday’s sentencing, Liu’s lawyer requested for leniency arguing that his shopper feels regret and “is not a cult leader, nor requires people to follow his cult”, according to Radio New Zealand.
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