Closing statements made for Mei Fan trial

Closing statements made for Mei Fan trial

After a complex four week trial, lawyers in the trial of Michael Preston, who is accused of murdering his estranged wife, have made their closing statements in the High Court in Wellington.

The crown argues 60-year-old Preston killed Mei Fan to secure custody of their two children.

The mother-of-two was killed with 15 stab wounds to her face and neck, not long after she dropped her children off at school.

The murder weapon was found still embedded in her neck.

The Crown argues her husband, the father of her children, killed her in a frenzied attack and that he'd simply tired of their toxic relationship.

Grant Burston told the court there was a clear motive for Preston to kill his estranged wife. He wanted her out of the way so he could get custody of their children.

He says Ms Fan was scared of Preston, telling a friend that he would kill her if she got full custody of their children. She even took a restraining order out against him.

But Preston's defence says the killer could have been a burglar or a hit-man.

"This is a circumstantial case, there's nothing linking Preston to the crime."

The month-long trial features strange elements, including black fibres that were found by and on Fan's body. It’s been suggested they came from a witch's costume that could have been worn as a disguise.

The judge is expected to sum up before the jury begin deliberating on Monday.

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