Source: Radio New Zealand
The victim, Shulai Wang of China. Supplied / Police
Four people charged over the death of a woman whose body was found in plastic bags in the waters of Auckland’s Gulf Harbour, have chosen to represent themselves at their trial next year.
The body, which was discovered by a fisherman in March last year, was later identified as 70-year-old Shulai Wang.
Two men and two women are facing charges of kidnapping and manslaughter, and are set to face trial in May next year.
All have interim name suppression.
The younger of the men is also facing additional charges of perverting the course of justice and giving false information to immigration officers.
At an administrative appearance at the High Court in Auckland on Wednesday, their lawyer Ron Mansfield told the court the four defendants wanted to act on their own behalf for their trial, and he was withdrawing from the case.
Justice Mathew Downs spoke to each of the defendants, two of whom needed the assistance of a Mandarin interpreter, to confirm their decision.
“You understand that you and other defendants are facing a serious charge as manslaughter,” Justice Downs asked the younger of the two male defendants.
The defendant said “We understand”.
Asked if he wished to represent himself, the man said: “yes we all do”.
Justice Downs said he would ask each of the defendants separately as the man shouldn’t be able to speak for all the others.
He also told the man “I don’t know a human on the earth that would recommend you defend yourself”, but later added he respected their decision.
The younger of the two female defendants also told the judge that she wished to defend herself in trial.
The remaining two defendants, who required interpretation, appeared confused when asked by Justice Downs what they wanted to do in the criminal trial.
Justice Downs told the younger male defendant that he could appoint standby lawyers to help them with their defences, and asked if he would like to do that.
The defendant said, “we still prefer we can communicate directly with the court so there will be no misunderstanding”.
Justice Downs approved Mansfield’s application to withdraw from the case and said he needed to reflect on what should be done in relation to the defendants.
He set a date in December to discuss with the defendants about their decision to self-represent, and whether standby lawyers will be appointed for each of them.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
