Guilty Verdict in Cult Leader Trial

Auckland News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jun 29, 2026 · 2m

A chilling case of cult horror unfolds as Kaixiao Liu and his wife Lanyue Xiao are convicted of kidnapping, manslaughter, and desecrating human remains after a follower, Shulai Wang, was found emaciated and bound in plastic bags floating in New Zealand’s Gulf Harbour. Evidence—including disturbing handwritten notes and audio recordings—revealed a brutal, hierarchical cult where Wang was starved and punished for minor infractions, including failing to kneel properly or taking too long in the bathroom. The prosecution linked her death to a failed escape attempt, while the defense argued…