Father thought Ireland was 'unsuitable' for murdered son

The father of a Chinese student whose charred remains were found along with a female friend in a Dublin apartment told a Central Criminal Court jury that before the killings, he decided Ireland was an "unsuitable environment" for his son, and had told him to prepare to transfer his studies to Australia.

A 25-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to the double murder of the two students.

The prosecution alleges that Yu Jie first strangled his friends, and then, two days later, set fire to their rented apartment in an attempt to hide what he had done.

Yu Jie (aged 25), who is known to some as 'Jack', with a previous address at McKee Avenue, Finglas, Dublin, denies the murder of Ms Liu Qing (aged 19) in an apartment at Blackhall Square, off North King St, Dublin 7, between 6pm on March 12, 2001 and 3am on March 14, 2001.

Mr Yu also denies the murder of Yue Feng (aged 19) between 1pm on March 12 and 3am on March 14 in the same place.

The prosecution alleges that the motive for the alleged killings was larceny and that the accused was "acting alone".

In evidence today, the father of Yue Feng, Mr Lian Sheng Yue, told the trial that when his son returned to China for a visit in late January 2001, he advised him to continue his studies in Australia and travelled to the country himself to satisfy himself with facilities there.

He said that he told Yue Feng that the educational environment in Ireland was not suitable for him and he told him to prepare to go to Australia in July of that year.

Mr Lian Sheng Yue, a company manager in the oil business, said his company staff handed Feng $30,000 (€28,400) six months previously in July 2000.

He said he did not regard the amount as substantial, as it had to cover tuition fees for Feng's cousin, as well as his living expenses, and medical and life insurance.

His father said he did not want his son to have to work, but wanted him to focus on his studies.

In January 2001, Feng told him he had still £5,000 of that money left in his bank account, Mr Yue said. While he gave him a few thousand Chinese Yen as "pocket money" to survive while he was visiting, he did not give him any more money, he said.