
Man admits murdering couple
A man has admitted murdering an Auckland couple in their home during an incident in November 2023. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
A man admitted to murdering an Auckland couple in their Ellerslie home before his trial at the High Court in Auckland last week.
It can now be reported Shuk Man Poon pleaded guilty last Monday to killing Fuk-Fu Joseph Kwok and Mei Han Chong in November 2023.
The admission had been suppressed by Justice David Johnstone until Friday morning.
The defendant is to be sentenced later this month.
Another man, Lok Fung Lorrence Li pleaded not guilty to murdering the couple, causing his trial to be aborted and the jury to be discharged last Friday.
The reason for this could also not be reported at the time.
A new trial date would be set for Li.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Otago Daily Times
9 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Chch court told of man's ‘campaign of violence and terror'
Christchurch District Court Photo / Nate McKinnon, RNZ By Al Williams WARNING: This story is about family violence and may be distressing. A mother was in tears as she shut her eyes and blocked her ears when a man's campaign of terror over her family was revealed in court. She had endured ongoing violence from him over a six-month period, before he turned his attention to her daughter. The woman's tears continued as her daughter went on to describe how his actions had affected her too. 'It has changed my life, since the abuse happened, I don't feel like a normal kid anymore, I feel nervous. The girl was 11 when the man, who has name suppression, showed her online pornography, told her to undress and then indecently assaulted her. 'I don't trust people like I used to, I have a hard time focusing on school now, I try to pay attention, but my head goes blank, I feel like I can't keep up anymore,' she told the court during his sentencing this week. 'I just get angry, other times I start crying, people think I am being dramatic, but they don't know what is going on inside. 'I can't be around crowds, I used to be happier, more outgoing and confident, I have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. 'I didn't deserve what happened and I don't want to feel like this forever.' The pair were caught up in what was described by Judge Raoul Neave in the Christchurch District Court as a campaign of violence and terror. Judge Neave said the offending occurred during a sustained period of violence, fear and control. 'They must have been living in fear.' Weekly beatings The court heard of numerous assaults; the man had initially accused the girl's mother of cheating and pushed her up against a wall, about six months into their relationship. He then backhand punched her while she was holding a baby in the back seat of a car he was driving. After that he started verbally abusing her almost every day . 'She would get a hiding at least once a week,' Judge Neave said. He would punch her while she was holding an infant, and sometimes in the face. Another incident resulted in a permanent scar on her neck. On yet another occasion, he held a kitchen knife to her neck and applied pressure. 'She thought you were going to kill her,' the judge said. The assaults continued after she discovered she was pregnant. The woman told the man in a statement she read in court that she 'walked on eggshells' around him as the assaults happened while the children were present. One thing that could not be excused was the sexual abuse of her daughter, she said. 'She was 11, the fact she looked up to her, you have caused trauma that will never be erased. 'I am terrified of seeing you again, it is essential for everyone here to understand the impact of his actions.' Victim shuts her eyes and blocks her ears The woman, who was visibly emotional throughout the proceedings, shut her eyes and blocked her ears as Judge Neave started to sentence the man. 'I have received a lot of information about you; there is lack of empathy and minimisation.' Some of the offending occurred while the man was coming down from methamphetamine, the judge said. There had been a background of health difficulties, family problems and a history of drug use. Judge Neave said it was possible other factors were paired in the man's inability to make sound judgments, but not a 'huge' link. 'This was sustained violence, assault in varying types, use of weapons, any number of household items available to you. 'The victim suffered from a number of injuries; they were varied and numerous and repeated.' At times the victim was very vulnerable because of her pregnancy, especially when she was on the ground during the assaults, the judge said. Judge Neave said the assault against the child victim was aggravated by the viewing of pornography. 'It was sustained and intrusive.' Violent and sexual offending Crown prosecutor Penny Brown said it was both violent and sexual offending with numerous and extensive attacks to the neck and in the presence of children. There was also a risk to an unborn child, she said. 'I want to say the guilty plea was extremely late, it spared the young victim from giving evidence at trial.' Defence lawyer Kathy Basire said there were multiple reports and letters of support and she described him as a 'different man now'. She said a sentence of home detention could be reached. There was a 'nexus' with his background issues in terms of the offending, she said. Judge Neave responded, saying the man had turned into a 'violent terrorist in the home'. Basire said he was coming down off methamphetamine. 'It doesn't justify or explain six months of violence,' the judge said. Judge Neave jailed the man for two years and 10 months on charges of an indecent act with a child, exposure of a young person to indecent material, assault with a weapon (representative), assault on a person in a family relationship (representative) and assault on a person in a family relationship. FAMILY VIOLENCE How to get help: If you're in danger now: • Phone the police on 111 or ask neighbours or friends to ring for you. • Run outside and head for where there are other people. Scream for help so your neighbours can hear you. • Take the children with you. Don't stop to get anything else. • If you are being abused, remember it's not your fault. Violence is never okay.

RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
Wellington's Terrace Tunnel reopens after armed police halt traffic
Police conducted an armed stop in the Terrace Tunnel on Wednesday. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone The Terrace Tunnel on State Highway 1 in Wellington has reopened after an armed police stop. Police say around 11.30am on Wednesday they received a report of a person pointing a firearm at another member of the public in Kilbirnie. Police said they then followed a vehicle of interest travelling north towards the Terrace Tunnel where an armed stop was conducted. Police conducted an armed stop in the Terrace Tunnel on Wednesday. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone The northbound side of the Terrace Tunnel was temporarily closed but has now reopened. An RNZ reporter on the scene said police cars were blocking the left-hand lane while police on motorbikes were directing traffic. Police were scattered over the empty portion of the road, she said. Traffic management and a tow truck had arrived on the scene shortly before midday, she said. Police have taken two people have been taken into custody. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.


Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Otago Daily Times
Missing student's mother flies in from US
Will Johnson who has not been heard from for a week. Photo: Supplied Private investigators trying to find a US aviation student missing for more than a week are filtering through tips they've received that could shed light on his whereabouts. Massey University student William Henry Johnson, known as Will, was last seen in Palmerston North between 30 May and 1 June. The 24-year-old's last communication with family was on 5 June and he has not responded to any attempts to contact him since. His parents have hired private investigators to find him, and on Tuesday Mike Gillam, of The Investigators New Zealand, publicly appealed for information and sightings. He told RNZ on Wednesday investigators had received information that potentially confirmed a sighting of Johnson in the central North Island. "We do want to hear from anyone with information that could be beneficial," he said. "A lot of the time is spent filtering through and sorting what may be a priority and what may be historic and not of interest to our timeline. "Certainly, we've appreciated the public outreach and there are a number of lines of inquiry that we're looking into." Johnson's mother was arriving in New Zealand from Seattle this morning. Gillam said her arrival in Palmerston North would be key, allowing her to speak with police and staff at Massey. There were no search parties in place at this stage, as more specific information would be needed, although aerial searches were under consideration. Johnson was last seen in the Takaro area of Palmerston North. Gillam said his disappearance was "really traumatising" for his family, who were distraught. His company had three investigators working on the matter full time. On Tuesday, Gillam said it was out of character for Johnson not to have contact with his family for such a period of time. Johnson was known to make off-the-cuff trips to Auckland. Police have said they received a missing person report on 9 June. "Police have made a number of various area inquiries in possible locations of interest in the Palmerston North area," a spokeswoman said today. "We would encourage William, or anyone who knows his whereabouts, to get in touch with police to confirm he is safe." Johnson drove a 2013 silver Mazda 6, registration MJK496, which was also missing and could provide leads to his whereabouts, Gillam said. Gillan can be contacted on 027 299 7603.