NZ religious sect leader jailed over death of Chinese follower

A New Zealand court has sentenced religious sect leader Kaixiao Liu to over ten years in prison for the manslaughter and kidnapping of an elderly Chinese woman, Shulai Wang. Wang, 70, had traveled from Hainan Island in China to New Zealand to live with Liu and his family in a house they referred to as "the Ark." The court heard that Wang and several other women were subjected to servitude and tightly controlled by Liu, who they called "Lord" or "Master."

Wang frequently faced punishment for not adhering to strict rules, possibly due to her age. In March 2024, Wang attempted to escape but was caught and killed later that day. Her body was found wrapped in rice bags near Gulf Harbour in Auckland, leading to the arrest of Liu and his family. Liu's wife, Lanyue Xiao, was sentenced to nearly eight years in jail for kidnapping and manslaughter, among other charges.

Liu's mother and father also received convictions for kidnapping and misconduct to human remains, with their sentencing pending. Liu's lawyer requested leniency, stating that his client feels remorse and is not a cult leader. The court emphasized Liu's callous indifference towards Wang's death, describing it as a "lonely, frightening" end.