Man 'had pregnant lover killed'

The owner of a Chinese take-away in Belfast brought a man from Hong Kong to murder his pregnant lover, the High Court has been told.

The claim was made during an unsuccessful bail application on behalf of 36-year-old Wing Chun Yuen, from Grangewood Crescent, Dundonald.

He denies murdering 29-year-old Mi Yo Ho who was found dead in her home at Isoline Street in the Willowfield area of east Belfast in June 1998.

A Crown lawyer told the court that a DNA test confirmed that he was father of the victim's unborn child.

The killer let himself into the victim's house and the only other person with a key was her paramour, the defendant

Crown lawyer

"He had a motive to kill her because she was putting pressure on him to divorce his wife but he was not prepared to do so as she was also pregnant with twins," said the lawyer.

He said police believed Miss Yo, who had been working in a Chinese restaurant in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, was murdered by a man called Wong who was brought from Hong Kong by the defendant.

"Police believe the man who did the murder is back in Hong Kong and that he was a tool of the defendant who desired this woman's death because of the embarrassment she was causing to his life," added the lawyer.

Mr Justice Sheil asked if it was a contract killing and the lawyer said police would not put it as strongly as that, but there was evidence the defendant met the man at the airport and took him back after the murder.

Fibres on victim's neck

"The killer let himself into the victim's house and the only other person with a key was her paramour, the defendant," said the lawyer.

He said fibres found on the victim's neck were similar to ones found in the defendant's pocket and this could have happened during the transfer of the key.

The lawyer said Yuen was arrested last May after he returned to Northern Ireland to tidy up his financial affairs.

"Police believe that if he is allowed out on bail they will never see him again," said the lawyer.

Yuen's lawyer said the man called Wong knew the deceased and that was the reason for him coming to Belfast and would explain why he had a key to her home.

Bail was refused by Mr Justice Sheil who said he shared the police's concern that Yuen would flee the jurisdiction if he was released.