The man accused of murdering Auckland woman Cissy Chen has been found not guilty.
Cissy Chen with her father. Photo: SUPPLIED
A jury in the High Court in Auckland today found Yun Qing Liu, 58, not guilty of murdering Ms Chen and disposing of her body in November 2012. Her body was found in a drain at a North Shore reserve 16 months later.
The Crown had argued Ms Chen was about to cut Mr Liu, her long-term partner, out of her will.
However, his defence team had argued Ms Chen was the "goose that laid the golden egg" and he had no reason to kill her.
Cissy Chen's brother Philip Chen Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson
Ms Chen's brother Philip Chen was in tears as he spoke outside court after the verdict.
He said the family was devastated Ms Chen's soul could not "rest in peace" and said that her death would go unpunished.
Mr Chen said his sister was killed and dumped in the reserve by a cold-blooded monster.
Mr Liu's lawyer Michael Kan told Checkpoint it was clear from the evidence presented in court that it was not Mr Liu who killed Ms Chen, and police need to investigate her death further.
"Given the evidence that presented in the court, that continues to be a question. I believe, and I suggest, maybe the police need to continue to look into the file."
Mr Kan said, during the course of the trial, other names were mentioned as possible suspects.
Listen to Michael Kan
Yun Qing Liu - pictured during the trial - has been cleared of his long-term partner's murder. Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski
Mr Kan had told jurors in his closing that the Crown's case against Mr Liu was 100 percent circumstantial and compared it to a castle being built on a beach; it would fall to pieces as the tide came in.
He said Mr Liu earned a similar wage as Ms Chen and the pair had an enterprise together which involved buying houses, renovating them and selling them.
He also pointed out Mr Liu only had an injury to his hand, and that Ms Chen would have fought back.
Mr Kan said no forensic evidence was found in the couple's cars or the house, and that there was no hostility in the pair's relationship.
Crown prosecutor Brian Dickey had told the court that neighbours of the couple in Torbay on Auckland's North Shore said they heard loud arguments and, on one occasion, one had thought they heard plates being thrown.
Mr Dickey said the couple had fought about money the day before Ms Chen disappeared on 5 November 2012, and that the next day she had called a friend asking for the details of a lawyer so she could rewrite her will and ensure her assets would go to her own family.
Justice Katz, summing up yesterday following a six-week trial, told the jury they must be sure beyond reasonable doubt Mr Liu killed Ms Chen.
The six-woman, six-man jury took only a day to reach the not guilty verdict.