UPDATED 11.21am: Jaden Lee Stroobant has this morning pleaded guilty to murdering West Auckland mother Cun Xiu 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 had pleaded not guilty to the charges, however this morning he admitted the three counts.

Justice Graham Lang entered convictions for 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.

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 own 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 against Tian.

The victim's family were not in court.

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

Stroobant will be sentenced on March 13.

Te Atatu Baptist Church spokesman Des Marett said it's not the end of the story for the community, or a family still in mourning.

"It gives a small amount of relief but of course the pain and loss isn't going to go away so that pain is going to need to be supported."

He said from past experience the pain from this sort of event can carry on for a long time.

"It's relief that something's been done and the police have provided some protection, but the family's still going to need support"

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 home alone at the house she shared with her daughter and son-in-law when Stroobant killed her.

Her daughter found her dead in the home several hours later.

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

Stroobant's lawyers claim that publication of the details could put him in danger in prison - where he is in voluntary segregation for his own protection.

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

 

NZ Herald