VANCOUVER -- Nearly five years after a wealthy businessman was killed in a West Vancouver mansion, one of his relatives has been convicted in his death.
The victim, 42-year-old Gang Yuan, was found chopped into more than 100 pieces at a home in the posh British Properties back in May 2015.
Li Zhao – who married Yuan's cousin – was arrested hours after the grisly discovery and charged with second-degree murder.
The two men were involved in a violent confrontation at around 2:30 a.m., and Yuan was hit with a hammer and shot twice. In his testimony, Zhao claimed he feared for his life.
On Tuesday, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Terence Schultes rejected that testimony, calling it untruthful, but also said he prosecutors hadn't proved Zhao intended to murder Yuan beyond a reasonable doubt. He found Zhao guilty on the lesser count of manslaughter, as well as interfering with human remains.
Defence lawyer Ian Donaldson said manslaughter was the outcome they wanted. Outside court, he told reporters his client has been "a law-abiding, decent human being all his life until that day."
“He's almost 60 years-old," Donaldson said. "He's got a history of non-violence, (and of) contribution to his community together with his family both in China and here.”
Zhao and Yuan lived together at the West Vancouver mansion along with Zhao's wife and his daughter Florence, who starred in the Vancouver reality show Ultra Rich Asian Girls.
The home was in Zhao's name, though a lawyer representing the Yuan's family previously said the $5 million property, located on King Georges Way, rightfully belonged to Yuan and was only listed in Zhao's name for tax purposes.
Zhao has already served around four and a half years in prison but the defence expected he will receive some additional time. A date for the sentencing hearing will be set on Jan. 15.
