Theft charge added to murder

Cheng Qi Wang. Photo / NZ Herald

A man charged with murdering two men at a $2 million mansion is now also accused of stealing light switches from Bunnings Warehouse while on bail.

Cheng Qi Wang is accused of killing Zhuo "Michael" Wu, 44, and Yishan "Tom" Zhong 53, at his home in the Auckland suburb of Mt Albert.

His lawyer, David Jones, QC, said Wang was acting in self-defence and emphatically denies the charges.

Yesterday, Wang was meant to be in court facing a different charge.

He is accused of stealing $164.96 of light switches from Bunnings in Mt Roskill last Friday.

His address listed on the charge sheet is the house where the two men were found dead by police on January 14 this year.

Wang was seen by court staff yesterday morning but failed to appear when his case was called. A warrant for his arrest was issued at 12.30pm.

The officer in charge of the murder inquiry, Detective Inspector Bruce Shadbolt, was aware of the fresh charge.

He told the Herald yesterday afternoon that the warrant would stay in court until 5pm in case Wang returned to court.

A check with the court about 5pm revealed Wang had not reappeared.

Mr Jones was in a High Court trial yesterday and was not aware of the new charge. He said he was not in a position to comment.

Wang is due to appear in the High Court at Auckland next month in relation to the two murder charges.

Police found one of the bodies on the driveway and another inside the house when they were called to the $2 million mansion.

A post-mortem examination showed that the two men died from stab wounds. Police said they found two weapons at the address.

At a previous court appearance, Mr Jones said his client would defend the charges.

"The two men who died came to his home and his position is that they attacked him and he acted in self-defence."