Rotorua man charged with former partner’s murder
The man accused of murdering a woman in her South Auckland home before Christmas has been revealed to be Rotorua’s Ephraim Beazley.
Beazley, 33, appeared in the High Court at Auckland yesterday, charged with one count of murder, relating to the death of Xi Wang, 34. He did not enter a plea. Both Wang and Beazley can now be named after court-ordered suppression was lifted.
The Flat Bush mum-of-one died on December 10 after being violently attacked in her home.
Beazley was her former partner and the father of her child.
At his first court appearance in the Manukau District Court, a suppression order was made prohibiting the publication of Beazley and Wang’s names and “details of the charge”.
Yesterday that suppression order was lifted by Justice Simon Moore.
Wang was the mother of a toddler and it is understood the child was at home with her at the time of the fatal attack.
Justice Moore has suppressed that child’s name.
Only hours before she died Wang posted a series of photographs on Facebook showing her having dinner with her son. In one shot, the pair appear to “cheers” each other — she with a glass of red wine and the little boy with his milk cup.
Beazley first appeared in the Manukau District Court on December 12 charged with one count of murder.
Court documents reveal Beazley lives in Rotorua and works as a farmer.
It is understood he and Wang were in a relationship but had been separated for some time.
The night she died, police were called to Wang’s home just after 10pm. She was unconscious, with a number of serious wounds.
A source confirmed she had been stabbed many times all over her head and body.
At the time, Detective Inspector Tofilau Faa Va’aelua said the woman was taken to Middlemore Hospital but her injuries were too severe and she died soon after.
While officers were at the scene, a man contacted police claiming responsibility for the violent attack.
Va’aelua said officers found the man in Botany and he was taken to the Manukau Police Station.
Beazley was later charged with murder.
Va’aelua confirmed the accused was known to the victim and police were not seeking anyone else in relation to the death.
After the attack the Herald spoke to a number of people in the street where Xi Wang lived.
All were horrified to hear about the killing.
Flat Bush man Vishaldeep Singh said he did not hear anything in his street until a police officer started knocking at the door late that night.
When he answered the door there were “a lot of police officers” standing in the sleepy cul-de-sac.
He said the woman lived in an upstairs flat with her young son. “She was a very kind lady,” he said. “I’m feeling horrible . . . I’m feeling sad for her son especially.”
Singh said after police alerted him to the incident, he saw the little boy being held by a woman.
“I’m so, so, thankful to the lady who was holding him,” he said.
The boy “slowly, slowly” went to sleep in the woman’s arms, the Flat Bush man said.
Va’aelua said police could not comment further about the case because the matter was before the courts.
Beazley was remanded in custody to next appear in the High Court at Auckland for a callover on March 6.