Manchao Li Guilty of Frantic Daytime Murder of Massey Librarian Jennifer Yang

The ex-husband of Massey librarian Jennifer Yang has been found guilty of murdering her in a frenzied daytime stabbing in West Auckland.

Members of the Auckland High Court jury reached a verdict on Tuesday morning.

The courtroom was silent as the verdict was read and Judge Pheroze Jagose handed down sentences while Manchao Li was in the dock.

The Crown had argued that Li, 65, was obsessed with revenge after breaking up with his wife and becoming embroiled in a decade-long legal dispute over money and property.

Defense attorneys argued that Li was not in the right frame of mind to form a killing intent. Li said he did not remember the stabbing. He will be sentenced on December 18.

In addition to finding him guilty of murder, the jury also found Li guilty of violating a protection order.

The jury trial heard witnesses who saw what they believed was a man beating a woman on the morning of Monday, July 29, last year.

Daniel Harvey witnessed the attack and challenged Li.

“I will not forget his eyes. He was angry,” Harvey said at the trial last week.

Li admitted that he must have stabbed Yang, but insisted that he did not wish to harm him.

He told the court that he was determined that they would both reach old age, as he was emulating the sea turtle, an animal known to live for a long time.

Domestic Violence: Do You Need Help?

If you are in danger now:

• Call the police on 111 or ask your neighbors or friends to call for you.
• Run outside and go to where there are other people.
• Yell for help so your neighbors can hear you.
• Take the children with you.
• Don’t stop to buy anything else.
• If you are being abused, remember that it is not your fault. Violence is never okay

Where to go for help or more information:

• Shine, toll free national helpline from 9 am to 11 pm every day – 0508 744 633 www.2shine.org.nz
• Women’s shelter: the free national crisis line operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – 0800 shelter or 0800 733 843 www.womensrefuge.org.nz
• Shakti: Provides specialized cultural services for African, Asian and Middle Eastern women and their children. Crisis line 24/7 0800742584
• Not OK: information line 0800 456 450 www.areyouok.org.nz