12 Aug 2011

China verdict on NZ taxi driver killing due soon

8:28 pm on 12 August 2011

Judges in China are to deliver their verdict next week in the trial of a Chinese national accused of murdering a New Zealand taxi driver.

Xiao Zhen is accused of killing Hiren Mohini in the Auckland suburb of Mt Eden in January last year.

The accused then left for China and his trial in Shanghai earlier in August lasted one day.

A panel of three judges will deliver their verdict next Wednesday.

Detective Senior Sergeant Hywel Jones, who led the New Zealand investigation, says a guilty verdict for murder would normally lead to the death sentence, but the Chinese government has promised that will not apply in this case.