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WELLINGTON, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Two Chinese men
appeared Wednesday in court in Auckland, New Zealand, being charged over killing
of a Chinese student, Wanbiao, five days ago.
One of the accused is charged with murdering Wan, 19,
who was found in a suitcase dumped in Auckland's Waitemata Harbor on Good
Friday. He is also charged with kidnapping. The second man is accused of being
an accessory, after Wan's death.
The two men are all 21 years old. One is a student
and the other is said to be "unemployed".
The accused made a brief appearance in the Auckland
District Court on Wednesday morning, with the aid of a translator.
The two men were granted interim name suppression,
and the Judge also ordered any details which could lead to their identity be
suppressed.
Police believe the accused held Wan Biao to ransom
and demanded the victim's parents in China pay 4 million RMB yuan for their
son's release.
Detective Inspector Bernie Hollewand said hours of
video camera tape and "good police work" were behind the breakthrough.
Hollewand said kidnapping "may have been one of the
motives" leading to Wan's death, but he held "a simple kidnapping motive is not
consistent with the preparations and the actions of the conspirators."
The ransom call to the family was "a very incomplete
demand," said Hollewand.
He said there was no evidence of association with
known Chinese gangs.
Both men were remanded in custody and are due to
reappear in court at the end of June.
The Police said Wan's parents in China was noticed
the death of their son and they were "devastated."
The parents are coming to New Zealand.
Wan came to New Zealand from China in August last
year and studied English at Oxford International Academy.
His killing has been headlines amongst New Zealand
media and many local people and Chinese students feel very sorry about Wan's
death.
Oxford International Academy dean of studies Michelle
Mason agreed with a police assessment that Wan was a "quiet and studious"
person.
Most of the students he studied with were on holiday
this week. Those still there were very shocked, and would be helped by a grief
counselor, she said.
Chief Executive of Education New Zealand Robert
Stevens said Wan Biao's death was "sad, tragic," while he believed it was an
"isolated case."
Mr Stevens told Xinhua Tuesday "the number of
incidents involving international students are minimal considering their
population in New Zealand."
"And we would like the parents, including the Chinese
parents, to be sure that New Zealand is still one of the safest destinations
globally for international students," said Stevens. Enditem
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