A jilted woman has pleaded guilty to murdering her former lover’s wife and his four-year-old grandson with a pair of garden shears while holding him captive for nearly 10 hours.
Chinese national Cia Liao, 45, wept silently in the dock at the Melbourne Magistrates Court after pleading guilty via a translator to the murders of Mai Mach, 60, and Alistair Kwong, 4, on March 31.
Ms Liao was suspected of drugging her ex-boyfriend Brian Mach before using string and a skipping rope to tie him up while his grandson Alistair slept in a nearby bedroom that morning, a prosecution summary tendered in court revealed.
Leading up to the tragedy Mr Mach had broken off a three-year relationship with Ms Liao, who was pressuring him to leave his wife and marry her to help get Australian residency.
After arguing with Mr Mach in the morning she had killed the young boy, whose special bond with his grandfather caused her to be jealous, attacking him in the room where he slept.
Ms Liao then waited for Mrs Mach to return from work at 5pm and attacked her in the backyard. Her cries for help had been overheard by children playing in the street who told their parents.
Before police burst into the house to discover Ms Liao sitting with a bound and gagged Mr Mach, she had told him: “I’ve killed everyone to make you suffer and if I’m happy I’ll let you go with them,” according to the summary.
The first thing Mr Liao asked when police released his gag was about the welfare of his grandson.
Ms Liao, who was living in Albion on a tourist visa, also pleaded guilty to intentionally causing injury, unlawful imprisonment and assault over the ordeal inflicted on Mr Mach.
“She wishes to apologise to the family for the terrible grief her actions have caused them,” her lawyer said.
Magistrate Donna Bakos remanded Ms Liao in custody to face the Supreme Court for a directions hearing on Friday.
Rania Spooner/The Age
