16 Aug 2013

Four-year sentence for killing business associate

12:13 pm on 16 August 2013

An Auckland man who killed a former business associate who tried to evict him from his home has been jailed for four years.

Chen Qi Wang was found guilty of the manslaughter of Yishan Zhong, who was stabbed at Wang's home in January 2011.

He was acquitted of the murder of another man who died in a knife fight in the same incident.

All three men had previously been business associates but fell out when the two men who died complained about Wang to the Serious Fraud Office.

Wang was jailed earlier this week for two years and nine months for those crimes.

At the manslaughter sentencing in the High Court in Auckland on Friday Justice Venning rejected the defence's argument that Wang was remorseful for his actions because court reports show Wang told probation officers he would do it again if put in the same situation.

However, he accepted Wang was acting in self defence when the two men tried to evict him from his home.

The court heard that Wang, dressed in his pyjamas, grabbed a hunting knife to defend himself.

Justice Venning did not accept the Crown's theory that Wang fatally stabbed Mr Zhong when he had his back turned, saying the stabbing more likely happened during the fight.

Wang's two jail terms will be served cumulatively.