Gulf Harbour body trial: Religious group leader, wife jailed over manslaughter, kidnapping
A religious group leader and his wife have been sentenced to prison for the manslaughter and kidnapping of a follower in Auckland. The victim was found deceased in a suitcase after being subjected to strict household rules and physical abuse.
Why it matters
This case highlights the dangers of fringe religious groups and the legal consequences of extreme coercive control and abuse.
The leader of a fringe religious group Kaixiao Liu has been sentenced to 10 years and five months imprisonment for the manslaughter and kidnapping of one of his followers - 70-year-old Shulai Wang .
His wife, Lanyue Xiao, received a sentence of seven years and 11 months for her role.
Wang, from Hainan, China, was found wrapped in layers of black rubbish bags in Auckland's Gulf Harbour in March 2024, eight months after she arrived in the country to follow the religious instructions of Liu.
Liu's mother, Xiuyun Li, and father, Jingui Liu, were also convicted in June - Li of kidnapping and Jingui Liu of misconduct to human remains.
They will be sentenced later this year, due to more material they plan to place before the court.
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