Vancouver man charged with dismembering corpse in multimillion-dollar mansion

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Vancouver man Li Zhao charged with dismembering corpse in multimillion-dollar mansion

PUBLISHED : Wednesday, 06 May, 2015, 11:34am
UPDATED : Wednesday, 06 May, 2015, 6:58pm

Ian Young in Vancouver
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The home at 963 King Georges Way, where police made the gruesome discovery on Saturday night. Photo: SCMP Pictures

A Vancouver resident named Li Zhao has been charged with dismembering a corpse in his multimillion-dollar mansion in the prestigious British Properties neighbourhood.

Zhao, co-owner of the 9,800 sq ft home on leafy King Georges Way, appeared in North Vancouver Provincial Court on Tuesday afternoon. He was charged with interfering with a corpse, although the investigation at the gruesome crime scene continues and additional charges are being considered.

“Forensic examination of a residence in the 900 block of King Georges Way is ongoing.

“The premises remain secured by police for investigative reasons; however current police operations at the home do not involve any risk to the surrounding neighbourhood,” Constable Jeff Palmer of West Vancouver Police said.

“Investigators have confirmed the deceased and accused were known to each other. Investigators believe circumstances under investigation were not random and did not involve general risk to the community.”

Police had earlier said they were called to the address late Saturday evening by a report that a “violent confrontation” had occurred.

Li Zhao in a courtroom sketch

Zhao, 54, was arrested “without incident”, and the remains identified as those of a 42-year-old man, police said.

The suspect has been remanded in custody, with his next court appearance scheduled for Monday.

The home where the dismemberment occurred is a glassy, modernist mansion with a long driveway that was sold for C$4.45 million (HK$29 million) in 2010. However, prices of detached homes in the area have soared by more than 40 per cent since then.

West Vancouver police working with homicide investigators from the Vancouver Police Department on the case. Photo: CBC

The British Properties, an enclave of large lots overlooking the ocean and downtown Vancouver, has long been favoured by wealthy Hong Kong and mainland Chinese immigrants, with past residents including the late Canto-pop star Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing.

The Vancouver Police Department’s homicide unit is jointly conducting the investigation with West Vancouver Police.