NZ religious sect leader jailed over death of Chinese follower

For context, a New Zealand court has jailed a religious sect leader over the death of an elderly follower who had travelled from China to live with his family.

Key points

• During the trial the court heard that Wang had travelled from Hainan island in China to New Zealand in August 2023.
• Sometime in 2017, he moved to New Zealand along with Xiao, and the couple became permanent residents.
• In 2011, he was a contestant for China's Obtained Talent – clips posted online demonstrated him singing onstage blindfolded.
• During the sentencing, Justice Mathew Downs remarked Liu had shown "callous indifference" towards Wang.
• Kaixiao Liu was discovered guilty of manslaughter and kidnapping, and sentenced to more than 10 years in prison.

In practice, the body of 70-year-old Shulai Wang had been discovered wrapped in rice bags near Auckland's Gulf Harbour in March 2024, sparking a major homicide investigation which eventually led to Liu.

Liu, a musician who previously appeared in a talent show in China, had denied the charges. He additionally denied he is a cult leader and stated he only attracted followers through his music.

She moved in with Liu and his family at their house. It liu had called "the Ark", along with a number of other female followers.

According to Prosecutors, the women acted in "servitude" to Liu and his family, and their lives were tightly controlled by Liu, where they referred to him as "Lord" or "Master".

Wang reportedly spent her days taking care of Liu's children, studying scripture, and planting vegetables.

In practice, the court heard that Wang had struggled to comply with the strict rules, possibly due to her old age, and was frequently disciplined.

In March 2024, Wang tried to escape but was caught and restrained. She died afterwards that day, the court heard.

In practice, the court heard that Liu, his family, and his followers dumped Wang's body near a marina at Gulf Harbour. Liu had taken his children along for the trip "as camouflage".

Meanwhile, the body was discovered by a fisherman days afterwards. Police eventually traced the rice bags applied to wrap Wang's body to Liu. This person had produced unusually sizeable purchases of that brand of rice.

Besides Liu, his wife, Lanyue Xiao, was sentenced to almost eight years in jail for kidnapping and manslaughter, amongst other charges. His mother, Xiuyun Li and father, Jingui Liu, had earlier been convicted of kidnapping and misconduct to human remains and are due to be sentenced afterwards this year.

On Tuesday's sentencing, Liu's lawyer asked for leniency arguing that his client feels remorse and "is not a cult leader, nor requires people to follow his cult", according to Radio New Zealand.

New Zealand media outlets documented that Liu had attended a military-based university in China.

Liu attracted followers on Chinese social media where he posted religious discussions, video diaries, and clips of himself singing. He additionally set up a project called Universal Choir that produced cosmic-themed orchestral music.

During the trial a police officer who interviewed one of Liu's female followers offered testimony. He remarked in court that the woman informed him she "met the people over the internet through a song website, and she referred to the occupants of the house as friends".

"Since of you, Ms Wang died a lonely, frightening death. You display no remorse whatsoever. You should feel shame."

In short, NZ religious sect leader jailed over death of Chinese follower is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.