A New Zealand court has sentenced the leader of a fringe religious group, Kaixiao Liu, to 10 years and five months in prison for the death of a 70-year-old follower, Shulai Wang. Liu’s wife, Lanyue Xiao, received a seven-year and 11-month sentence. The couple ran a tightly controlled household in Auckland, where Wang had travelled from China to live in 2023.
Wang, who was from China’s Hainan province, lived with Liu, Xiao, and other women at their home, known as the ‘Ark’, in Orewa. The prosecution described the household as having ‘suffocatingly strict’ requirements, with the women expected to follow Liu’s rules and refer to him as ‘lord’ or ‘master’. Wang struggled with these requirements and was repeatedly punished.
In March 2024, Wang attempted to leave but was captured and restrained. She was held for about 38 hours, with her food and water withheld, and her mouth taped shut to prevent her from screaming. Wang died later that day, and her body was concealed near a marina. Liu took his children on the trip, using them as ‘camouflage’.
Police discovered Wang’s remains days later, wrapped in bags and rice sacks. An investigation into Liu’s unusually large purchases of the particular rice brand used to conceal the body led to his arrest. Justice Mathew Downs described Liu as the ringleader, showing ‘callous indifference’ towards Wang.
Liu and Xiao have five children, and Xiao is pregnant with a sixth. Liu was also convicted of interfering with human remains, attempting to obstruct the course of justice, and refusing to provide police with passwords to electronic devices during a search. Liu’s parents were also convicted in connection with the case and are due to be sentenced later this year.
Liu’s lawyer, Ron Mansfield KC, argued for a more lenient sentence, stating that Liu was not a cult leader and had gained followers primarily through his music. However, the judge observed that Liu had shown no remorse for his actions and had used objects associated with Wang’s detention and disposal of her body to intimidate the other women in the household.
