Jaden Lee Stroobant admits murder of Cunxiu Tian in her Te Atatu home

Jaden Lee Stroobant has this morning pleaded guilty to murdering West Aucklander Cunxiu Tian in her family home. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Jaden Lee Stroobant has this morning pleaded guilty to murdering West Auckland woman Cunxiu Tian in her family home.

Stroobant, 19, was set to go on trial in the High Court at Auckland this morning charged with murdering and sexually violating the 69-year-old.

He earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges, but this morning he admitted the three counts.

Stroobant murdered Tian in the home where she lived with her daughter and son-in-law on Glenvil Lane in Te Atatu on January 15 last year.

Tian was alone at the house when Stroobant killed her.

Cunxiu Tian was murdered in her Te Atatu home last January. Photo / Supplied

Her daughter found her dead several hours later.

Justice Graham Lang convicted Stroobant on all three counts, and issued a three-strike warning.

Stroobant stood in the dock looking away from Justice Lang, twiddling his thumbs. He was flanked by two security guards.

Details of the sexual offending have been suppressed but may be revealed at sentencing.

Justice Lang will decide at sentencing whether the details stay suppressed or if they can be published.

The Crown will seek preventive detention for Stroobant and cited public safety issues.

Stroobant was supported in court by family members. As he left the dock a woman believed to be his mother put her hand up to the glass, and he put his hand against it. They spoke softly to each other as he was led out the door to the cells.

Stroobant was silent during the hearing, uttering just three words - a guilty plea to each charge.

The victim's family were not in court.

Stroobant will be sentenced on March 13.