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| Robert Xie had sexual motive for murdering Lin family, crown alleges | Robert Xie had sexual motive for murdering Lin family, crown alleges |
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| The man accused of murdering five members of the Lin family in their Sydney home had three motives, including a sexual one, to commit the crime, the crown alleges. | The man accused of murdering five members of the Lin family in their Sydney home had three motives, including a sexual one, to commit the crime, the crown alleges. |
| Lian Bin “Robert” Xie had three separate motives, says the crown, when he crept into his brother-in-law’s home in Sydney’s north-west in the early hours of 18 July 2009 with the plan to kill the family. | Lian Bin “Robert” Xie had three separate motives, says the crown, when he crept into his brother-in-law’s home in Sydney’s north-west in the early hours of 18 July 2009 with the plan to kill the family. |
| Using a hammer-like weapon, it is alleged, he went into their bedrooms and murdered his brother-in-law Min “Norman” Lin, 45, Lin’s wife, Yun “Lily” Li Lin, 44, and their sons Henry, 12, and Terry, nine. He is also alleged to have killed Lily’s sister, Yun Bin “Irene” Lin, 39. Xie denies murder. | Using a hammer-like weapon, it is alleged, he went into their bedrooms and murdered his brother-in-law Min “Norman” Lin, 45, Lin’s wife, Yun “Lily” Li Lin, 44, and their sons Henry, 12, and Terry, nine. He is also alleged to have killed Lily’s sister, Yun Bin “Irene” Lin, 39. Xie denies murder. |
| Continuing his opening address to the jury on Wednesday, the prosecutor, Mark Tedeschi QC, outlined the three motives the crown alleges Xie had. | Continuing his opening address to the jury on Wednesday, the prosecutor, Mark Tedeschi QC, outlined the three motives the crown alleges Xie had. |
| One driving force, Tedeschi told the supreme court in Sydney, was sexual. In the 12 months before the murders it is alleged Xie engaged in “inappropriate sexual behaviour” towards a young female relative. | One driving force, Tedeschi told the supreme court in Sydney, was sexual. In the 12 months before the murders it is alleged Xie engaged in “inappropriate sexual behaviour” towards a young female relative. |
| “The sexual conduct included rubbing up and down the sides of her body for more than 30 seconds whilst he was breathing deeply,” Tedeschi said, adding Xie had also stroked her thigh. | “The sexual conduct included rubbing up and down the sides of her body for more than 30 seconds whilst he was breathing deeply,” Tedeschi said, adding Xie had also stroked her thigh. |
| After the killings this behaviour escalated and Xie allegedly began sexually abusing her in a “quite overt way”. This continued until his arrest in May 2011. | After the killings this behaviour escalated and Xie allegedly began sexually abusing her in a “quite overt way”. This continued until his arrest in May 2011. |
| After his arrest, Tedeschi said Xie had expressed another motive to a prisoner at Long Bay, now known as Witness A. Xie allegedly complained about his parents-in-law to the prison informer, saying they had compared him unfavourably with his wife Kathy’s brother Min, who ran a successful Epping newsagency. | After his arrest, Tedeschi said Xie had expressed another motive to a prisoner at Long Bay, now known as Witness A. Xie allegedly complained about his parents-in-law to the prison informer, saying they had compared him unfavourably with his wife Kathy’s brother Min, who ran a successful Epping newsagency. |
| Xie, meanwhile, had not worked since selling his restaurant in Melbourne and moving to Sydney in 2005. “The crown case is that the motive was a sense of loss of face against Min Lin and his family.” | Xie, meanwhile, had not worked since selling his restaurant in Melbourne and moving to Sydney in 2005. “The crown case is that the motive was a sense of loss of face against Min Lin and his family.” |
| Tedeschi said Xie also had a financial incentive to carry out the killings and had gone to great lengths to gain control of Min’s assets. These assets included the newsagency, the family’s North Epping home, a unit at Merrylands and a commercial unit which had just been leased. | Tedeschi said Xie also had a financial incentive to carry out the killings and had gone to great lengths to gain control of Min’s assets. These assets included the newsagency, the family’s North Epping home, a unit at Merrylands and a commercial unit which had just been leased. |
| But Graham Turnbull SC, for the defence, said that much was in dispute, including that the murders happened when the prosecution claimed on the morning of 18 July. | |
| “The evidence you will find shows that he was working. He was financially secure ... he had substantial savings from his work,” he told the jury. | |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |