Swift blow killed 'possessive lover', court told

A swift blow, probably from a hammer, left a 1.5cm dent in the skull of a woman found dead in a car park, a court heard today.

Xiukun Feng, also known as Nancy Peterson, was discovered in her car, parked at a Warehouse store in New Lynn, Auckland last year.

Mrs Peterson's lover, Feng Li, 42, is on trial for her murder. He denies the charge.

The Crown alleged that Li was concerned with his lover's growing jealousy and possessiveness and killed her the day before his wife returned from China.

Forensic pathologist Dr Timothy Koelmeyer used a ruler in the High Court in Auckland today to demonstrate to a jury the location and depth of the hammer blow to the head.

Dr Koelmeyer said Mrs Peterson, 54, owner of the Night Pearl Massage Parlour, would have died within minutes when a shock-wave from the blow shut down her breathing, heart beat and conscious state.

He said a metal hammer-like object, 4cm in diameter, was the likely weapon.

"I did go through my own hammer collection but one of my staff came in with a large hammer that fit [the dent] quite well," he told the court.

Defence lawyer Steve Bonnar said the Crown had little evidence to link the crime to his client and there were other people with motives to kill Mrs Peterson.

The Crown was expected to call 40 witnesses by Wednesday next week and the trial was set down for 12 days.

- NZPA