Murder accused in Zhong case stays in custody

AUCKLAND: The man accused of murdering Auckland businesswoman Elizabeth Zhong has appeared at Manukau District Court.

A member of the public stood up in the courtroom gallery and gazed intently at the accused man as he appeared in the dock yesterday.

The matter was then stood down as Judge Chris Field waited for an interpreter.

The man then reappeared shortly before 3pm, with two policeauthorised officers flanking him.

A brief discussion was had before Judge Field said due to the ‘‘gravity’’ of the charge, all other cases in the courtroom would probably not be heard yesterday.

Court then adjourned again for the judge to consider legal matters relating to the accused.

Court resumed at 3.35pm and the judge allowed photography of the man, but directed photos be pixelated.

Judge Field then indicated he would grant interim name suppression until the man’s next appearance.

The Herald opposed name suppression.

Defence counsel Scott McColgan sought bail for his client.

The accused man was remanded in custody to his next appearance, which will be in the High Court on March 10.

Ms Zhong’s body was found in the boot of her car near her Auckland home in late November last year in the East Auckland suburb of Sunnyhills.

Police said the 55yearold was attacked so violently she was unrecognisable.

Detective Inspector Shaun Vickers said: ‘‘We know the community expected police to get on with the investigation and bring about justice for Elizabeth.

‘‘From the outset of this investigation, the team of detectives working on Operation Attina have worked diligently to bring about a result in this case.’’

Det Insp Vickers said he hoped the arrest would bring some reassurance to the community and to the victim’s family.

Police had initially issued an appeal for sightings of the missing woman.

They found her vehicle around the corner from her home about 11am on Saturday, November 28.

It was revealed officers did not open the boot of the vehicle until several hours later.

Part of the police investigation, early on, included reviewing CCTV footage from the street.

Their focus was on the evening of Friday, November 27, to about 10am the next day.

Ms Zhong, who also went by the name Ying Zhong, moved to New Zealand from China in 1997 with her then young daughter and husband.

Friends said she lived in a then Housing NZ property before she amassed ‘‘significant wealth’’ according to her friends.

She had worked hard to become a successful businesswoman and had links to the film and wine industries. She had been bankrupted about two weeks before her death.