Extradition hearing in 'suitcase' murder

Wan Biao

A former university student wanted for the kidnap and murder of Chinese student Wan Biao in Auckland will remain in custody in Sydney until an extradition hearing next week.

Cui Xiangxian, 21, a Chinese national, was arrested on Thursday night by Australian Federal Police, acting on a warrant, in the inner Sydney suburb of Surry Hills.

He appeared briefly before Magistrate Allan Moore for what was expected to be an extradition hearing in Sydney's Central Local Court yesterday. But the prosecution asked for the matter to be adjourned.

Cui did not apply for bail and Mr Moore remanded him in custody to reappear in the same court on July 5 for the extradition hearing.

Cui is the fourth person arrested over the murder of 19-year-old Mr Biao, an English-language student whose body was found on Good Friday in a suitcase floating in the Waitemata Harbour. Hours earlier an $800,000 ransom demand had been made to his parents in China.

Cui is a former student of Waikato University in Hamilton.

Three others allegedly involved in the murder appeared in the Auckland District Court for a pre-depositions hearing on Wednesday.

Zheng Li, 21, was charged with murder and kidnapping. Yuxi Wang, 20, faces one kidnapping charge and one charge of tampering with evidence to help others to avoid conviction.

Lianda Yin, 21, was also charged with tampering with evidence to help others to avoid conviction.

They will reappear for a depositions hearing on September 4.

- NZPA