Grieving father tells of last call from kidnapped son

Wan Guan Zhong says his son was shy and very polite.

The father of murdered student Wan Biao spoke to his abducted son hours before the 19-year-old's body was discovered in a suitcase floating in the Waitemata Harbour.

Wan Guan Zhong, Wan Biao's grieving father, said he and his wife were on a train when he received a cellphone call demanding an $800,000 ransom for his son. He did not believe what was happening. He then got a second call and spoke to Wan Biao.

Mr Wan, who has come to New Zealand from China, yesterday revealed brief details of his last conversation with his son.

Two of Wan Biao's aunts, an uncle and a cousin are also in New Zealand with him. They said yesterday that they could not discuss details of the killing because charges had been laid, but did say they were not wealthy, although they had money. They would have paid a ransom.

Wan Biao's body was discovered on Good Friday.

A 21-year-old Chinese student has been charged with his kidnapping and murder. Two other men are charged with being accessories.

Mr Wan said his son was a hard-working student and close to his family, including his 12-year-old sister and 80-year-old grandfather.

He described Wan Biao as a talented and determined young man and said the family were devastated.

"New Zealand is hailed as a paradise in China. How do young innocent students become victims?" he asked through a translator.

Police allege Wan Biao was murdered at the inner-city Elliott St Apartments and his body, folded into the suitcase, thrown from the end of Princes Wharf.

The family said the murder trial would be "closely observed" by other countries.

They urged the Government to do more to protect international students. They will meet Ministry of Education officials this week to discuss their concerns.

The family have taken legal advice on whether the men who have been charged in connection with the murder can be extradited to face trial in China, but accept this is unlikely.

Convicted murderers face the death penalty in the people's republic.

Lawyer Raymond Huo, of Brookfields, said the family wanted to know why Wan Biao, a diligent student who had come to New Zealand to study for his future, was murdered.

Mr Huo said they wanted to discuss regulations and controls surrounding language schools.

The family were struggling to understand how students were able to become involved in crime, and wanted to know if there was a better way to monitor their activities.

Wan Biao's mother was admitted to hospital after learning of his death and has not travelled to New Zealand.

Mr Wan said his son was shy and very polite.

"Before he came to New Zealand he knew what he wanted and had a plan, even a daily plan."

He showed the Herald a study plan found among Wan Biao's belongings.

Titled "The way to study English", it noted he would learn five new words a day, check a dictionary for pronunciation, write a sentence and visit the library to find books with answers to particular questions.

Wan Biao wanted to study international business and planned to enrol in a foundation course at Auckland University and eventually obtain a bachelors degree. He hoped to study for a masters in the United States.

Mr Wan, a property developer from Yiwu, last spoke to his son at length two days before his body was found.