Double murder accused released on bail

Cheng Qi Wang. Photo / NZ Herald

The man charged with two murders in a $2 million mansion has been released on bail.

Cheng Qi Wang was released on bail last Thursday when he appeared at the Auckland District Court.

Detective Inspector Bruce Shadbolt said the Crown would appeal against the decision in the High Court at Auckland but a date has yet to be set down.

Police opposed bail when Wang appeared in court last month.

Wang is charged with two counts of murder. His lawyer David Jones QC has previously said that his client acted in self defence.

Police arrived at Wang's Mt Albert mansion on January 14 and found Zhuo "Michael" Wu, 44, and Yishan "Tom" Zhong, 53, dead at the Stilwell Rd property.

Both men were understood to have stab wounds.

Two women connected with the case contacted by the Herald have said they are concerned that a man facing such serious charges could be allowed out on bail.

A spokesman for Justice Minister Simon Power said the Government hoped to release a "discussion document" on further tightening bail for people accused of serious sexual, violent and drug crimes.

The spokesman said the document would be released in the coming weeks.

He said the Government had already passed the Bail Amendment Act since coming into office.

He said the act used to stop only those who pose a "a real and significant risk" from getting bail but the Government had since changed that to simply "a risk".