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An Auckland businesswoman whose body was found in the trunk of her car was facing financial difficulties prior to her death.
Elizabeth (Ying) Zhong, 55, was reported missing on Saturday morning and police later confirmed that a body had been found nearby.
Things understands that Zhong was subjected to a brutal attack before she died, and Detective Inspector Shaun Vickers confirmed that the police are treating her death as an alleged homicide.
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Elizabeth (Ying) Zhong, 55, was a successful businesswoman who owned wine companies.
His body was discovered in the trunk of his car 700 meters from his $ 2 million home in Suzetta Pl, Sunnyhills, near Pakuranga, on Saturday morning. The cause of his death has yet to be determined.
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Zhong was the sole director and shareholder of the Epsom-based visual effects company Digipost Entertainment Ltd.
The Owens Rd building was sold in a mortgage sale to Steve Wright, who said Things on Monday, he was “devastated” to learn of Zhong’s death.
“Elizabeth was a very nice person … I was hoping to enjoy [film] productions, but it was a house of cards situation, “Wright said.
Chris McKeen / Stuff
Forensic teams are inside Elizabeth (Ying) Zhong’s Suzetta Pl home.
Wright said that Zhong faced a lot of financial pressures and owed him a small amount of money.
“But it was nothing I couldn’t forgive,” he said.
“She was honorable and tried to do the best she could.”
Zhong was also the sole director and shareholder of the bankrupt Kennedy Point Group Ltd and Carrick Wines Ltd wine companies.
Carrick Winery manager Cliff Wickman described Zhong as a “lovely lady, who gave big hugs.”
In February 2019, Things reported that Zhong was selling Carrick Winery, in Central Otago, to help finance his film career.
Andrew Bethell of the accounting firm BDO, who is processing Carrick’s suspension of payments, said he was “quite surprised” by the news and that his thoughts were with Zhong’s family.
Police and forensic officers dressed in white boiler suits remained at Zhong’s home on Monday, where a bouquet of white roses was placed on a string.
Chris McKeen / Stuff
Flowers have been placed outside the police cordon.
A neighbor said Things An incident had occurred at the home about a month ago, where Zhong was taken to the hospital in an ambulance.
“There were two friends there, one went with her to the hospital and another stayed in the house, sitting outside with his head in his hands,” she said.
On Friday night, the woman noticed that the lights inside Zhong’s home were on.
At around 4 p.m. on Saturday, the woman’s partner noticed that Zhong’s car was parked around the corner from their home, where he was later found with his body inside.
“He recognized it, we know everyone’s cars on this street,” he said.
Another neighbor said that a resident on the street saw a black car, with Zhong and another person inside, leaving Zhong’s garage on Friday night.
“That house has always been strange,” said the man.
“I have the impression that she [Zhong] he was the only one who lived there. “
Chris McKeen / Stuff
Pass plates can be seen inside Elizabeth Zhong’s home as police continue to investigate her death.
Zhong’s friends were seen knocking on the door around the area on Saturday morning looking for her before the police arrived at the home.
Zhong’s ex-husband, Frank Fu, was seen outside their home on Saturday night. He said Things He did not know what had happened but he feared a crime.
Fu, Zhong and their daughter, who now works for the Treasury in Wellington, came to New Zealand in 1997 for work reasons.
The couple separated in 2017 and Zhong had a new partner, he said.
Anyone with information that could assist in the police investigation should contact 105, citing file number 201128/1909.
