Third man charged over Chinese student's death

Jiayi Li's parents will arrive from Beijing today. Photo / Supplied

A third man was arrested last night in relation to the murder of Chinese student Jiayi Li.

The 19-year-old West Auckland student is expected to face Auckland District Court today charged with being an accessory after the fact of murder.

Miss Li, 18, who was also known as Kiko, disappeared from Auckland on May 19.

Her body was found in the boot of her own car almost 120km away in Hamilton on Tuesday night.

Two Chinese men, aged 18 and 20, have been charged with Miss Li's murder and aggravated robbery.

The Herald has learned the 18-year-old is an Auckland school student. He has interim name suppression until 4pm today so his family in China can be informed.

He has been a student at the high school for less than a year, the principal said last night.

The principal added that students had not been informed about their classmate's arrest because his name and identity had been suppressed.

He was unsure how many students already knew what had happened but suspected the arrested 18-year-old had a small circle of friends, given he'd been at the school only a short time.

The school had, however, been working with the Ministry of Education and had support in place for any students who needed it once his identity was released later today.

A hotline number had also been set up - details of which would be emailed to parents - for students to call over the long weekend if they needed any support or assistance.

The 18-year-old is an international student and is living with a homestay family.

A friend of the teenager told the Herald he had a love of nightlife but had recently found himself in financial troubles after turning to gambling.

"He loves the nightlife, and would go out to bars, clubs and pool halls regularly and was quite free with spending money.

"But I think things got worse after he turned 18 and starting gambling as well," he said.

The accused allegedly met Miss Li at a central city pool hall.

Miss Li had bought her first car - a red 1998 Toyota Altezza Lexus - just three weeks before.

Although Miss Li's parents paid for the car, the vehicle was registered to her cousin Rebecca's husband, Eason Xie, because she couldn't find her driver's licence.

It is understood the accused had offered to give Miss Li driving lessons. The friend said the accused had planned to take Miss Li out alone, but they had to make a detour after she received a text while they were driving from friends asking for a lift because their car had been towed away.

She was last seen driving off in the car in the Auckland suburb of Kingsland with the accused and another man at 2am on May 19, the day police believed she was killed.

The two men charged with her murder are accused of using a knife to rob her of her eftpos card and her car. It is alleged they had attempted to use her card at Mt Albert and in Tamaki Drive.

Miss Li's parents will arrive in Auckland from Beijing this morning, and will be met by representatives from the local police.