Parents to attend murder trial

The parents of murdered English language student Wan Biao will come to New Zealand for the trial of their son's alleged killers, says a family friend.

Felix Xia, who owns an Auckland security company, attended depositions hearings for Li Zheng, Cui Xian, Wang Yuxi and Yin Lianda at the Auckland District Court this week.

Li and Cui are accused of kidnapping and murdering Mr Wan, and Wang and Yin of kidnapping the 19-year-old, then being accessories to murder by tampering with evidence.

Mr Xia told the Herald yesterday that he had been in regular touch with Mr Wan's family since meeting the man's father in the weeks following the Good Friday killing.

Mr Xia visited Mr Wan's family at their home in the city of Yiwu, in the province of Zhejiang, and believed they were still struggling to come to terms with the killing.

"I think at first they were angry, but now it is hard to say.

"They are still quite sad, but life goes on. They have a family (Mr Wan has a younger sister), and friends, and their business is there." -