Man remanded over fatal bashing of monk
AAP, January 29, 2010
Perth, Australia -- A 37-year-old Perth man has been remanded in custody over the bashing murder of a Buddhist monk who died two weeks after he was found bloody and unconscious.
Ian Samuel James McConkey, of Coolbellup, appeared in the Fremantle Magistrates Court on Friday charged with the murder of Buu "Paul'' Lieu, 48.
Mr Lieu died from his injuries in hospital on Monday after being attacked in the early hours of January 10 at Bibra Lake, in Perth's southeastern suburbs, after going there to meditate.
Mr McConkey told Fremantle magistrate Peter Michelides that he understood the charge, but didn't believe Mr Lieu had been murdered on January 10.
"He took a couple of weeks to die - he didn't die on that day,'' the accused said.
Mr McConkey, who gave a thumbs-up sign as he was led out of court, was remanded in custody to appear at the Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on February 10.
Mr Lieu was found unconscious, lying in a pool of blood, by a bike rider in the car park at Bibra Lake Regional Park.
He had been living with his mother and sister, who last saw him late on the night before the attack.
Family and friends said he would often go to the Bibra Lake area to meditate and walk around the lake.
